July 17, 2025 The Best Source of News, Culture, Lifestyle for Culver City, Mar Vista, Del Rey, Palms and West Los Angeles

OpEd: Will We Love LUVE and Tighten LUCE?

By Steve StajichNEWS-LUVE41516

Full Disclosure: I read the Land Use Voter Empowerment or LUVE initiative, currently gathering signatures to get on a ballot, and cannot pretend to have understood each and every aspect described in it. Like a day’s fishing outing, more fish got away than made it into my ‘boat’ of understanding. I’m left playing the role of the high school student who asks with trepidation “Will we be tested on this?” I can at least answer the question “What is Santa Monica’s current development platform?” and it is the Land Use Circulation Element or LUCE… which LUVE would like to alter.

Similar to the arguments that are already fomenting online and otherwise about LUVE, it has a singular outstanding dimension which may be working both for and against the LUVE… something like the catchy ‘hook’ in a popular song. (We’ll get to it in a moment.) But once you have a hold of that ‘sticky’ riff, it is probably true that there exists a general complication with LUVE as described by those opposing it: It does feel “complex.”

Many might say that raising a teenager is “complex” but it still needs to be done. Yet you might describe the process of parenting a teen in more easily understood language than that of the text of the LUVE initiative. Of course, raising a teen does not normally involve various levels of local government, interpretation of existing laws and codes, projected social and environmental impacts – or does it? Now that I think about it, maybe anyone contemplating raising kids should be made to read a document about what’s involved that is at least as complex as the text of the LUVE.

I cited a singular aspect of LUVE and it appears to be this, copied from the online text of the LUVE initiative: “The measure would create a new permitting requirement and process. A “Major Development Review Permit” would be required for projects exceeding the LUCE’s Tier 1 maximum height (32 feet/two stories) and size limits. The processing for such permits would include review by the Architectural Review Board, which would make recommendations to the Planning Commission. It would, in turn, be required to make certain findings before recommending the project to the City Council. If the Council made specified findings and approved or conditionally approved the project, the permit would not become effective unless and until the voters approved it in a general or special election. Similarly, a new requirement of voter approval would apply to all development agreements. Any development agreement approved by the City Council would not become effective unless and until it was approved by the voters. The measure states that the developer would pay any special election costs incurred in seeking voter approval of a review permit or development agreement.”

Let’s hope the struggles with or over the LUVE initiative don’t become Shakespearean, but it’s the paragraph above that I believe is causing many to say, “Ay, there’s the rub.” A group opposed to the LUVE, Santa Monica Forward, thinks the compelling of voting demanded by the LUVE is wrong-headed. In a statement published in the Santa Monica Daily Press, the “Forward” group argues that “sometimes you need a hammer and sometimes you need a wrench, but ballot-box planning is like mandating that all future generations must use only a hammer going forward, no matter what the problem they face.”

However, I take issue with Santa Monica Forward’s implication in that same statement that the LUVE is falsely invoking that the initiative “will protect us from shadowy forces whose only desire is to ruin our way of life.” Money is not a shadowy force; it can be a sledge hammer for those who are hammer fans. Let me ask “Forward” if our city has a downtown retail area that includes not only a mall but a second multi-story shopping center that has been built not just once but twice since I’ve lived in Santa Monica… because all of that is really great for low income housing and clean air and less traffic? To borrow from classic radio, “The Shadow knows.”

And this of course is why development and planning are slippery slopes requiring, among other things, complex laws and ordinances and reviews. Should voters always have the last say in these things? In each decision that is made concerning a structure over 32 feet in height? There’s something that feels very controlling about that, although the costs and bother involved would definitely slow development in our city. Still, those with something big to gain might just put up with that. I’d rather they took a look at our LUCE and just took their money and blueprints to another city rather than decide to fight to get on one of our ballots. But that’s hoping that a certain sustained level of frustration will keep developers from overbuilding – and with that bring increased traffic and a lesser our view of the sky – just because getting things done in Santa Monica is difficult. Difficult… hm. Maybe I should take another shot at reading the complex text of the LUVE.

 

Related Posts

Tesla Seen Nearly Crashing into West LA Home After Collision

July 17, 2025

July 17, 2025

Footage depicted a blue Prius on the road with significant front-end damage A crash involving injuries was reported around 12:30...

Mayor Bass Hails National Guard Withdrawal as Victory for Unity

July 17, 2025

July 17, 2025

The Pentagon’s decision to reduce the troop presence follows weeks of legal challenges and public demonstrations Mayor Karen Bass celebrated...

Culver City Event Fights for Fair Contract for Gym Workers

July 16, 2025

July 16, 2025

The rally will kick off with picketing at the gym across the street from the rally location at approximately 4:30...

(Video) Italian Eatery Finds New West LA Home after Wildfire Displacement

July 16, 2025

July 16, 2025

Cinque Terra, a longstanding Palisadian establishment, has brought its Northern Italian cuisine to Rose Avenue Italian Eatery Finds New West...

Dodgers to Host Back to School Bash for Fire-Affected Families

July 16, 2025

July 16, 2025

The free event will offer free groceries, school supplies, outfits, haircuts, medical screenings, and carnival rides The Los Angeles Dodgers...

One Injured in Marina del Rey Vehicle Crash

July 16, 2025

July 16, 2025

The site remained partially closed for over an hour, disrupting local traffic flow A vehicle collision at the intersection of...

Hundreds of Red-Legged Frog Tadpoles Released in Santa Monica Mountains

July 16, 2025

July 16, 2025

Once widespread in California, red-legged frogs vanished from the Santa Monica Mountains by the 1970s Nearly 600 California red-legged frog...

LAPD Seeks Missing 63-Year-Old Man Known to Frequent Playa Vista

July 15, 2025

July 15, 2025

His family last heard from him via a group text on June 22 The Los Angeles Police Department’s Missing Persons...

Nonprofit Formed by Palisades High Alumni to Host Benefit Concert for Fire Recovery

July 15, 2025

July 15, 2025

All proceeds will support relief for the Hildebrand family, Palisades High School’s booster club and Palisades Dolphin Strong The Pacific...

Federal Judge Sides with Santa Monica, Other Local Governments Against Immigration Raids

July 15, 2025

July 15, 2025

Santa Monica Mayor Lana Negrete praised the ruling, saying it reaffirmed the city’s commitment to protecting residents from unjust detention...

Venice Beach to Host First Medal at 2028 Olympics

July 15, 2025

July 15, 2025

Venice Beach, known for its vibrant boardwalk, will kick off the 844 ticketed events, hosting the triathlon along its coastline...

Venice Family Clinic Slams HHS Funding Restrictions as Assault on Immigrants

July 14, 2025

July 14, 2025

HHS announced on July 10 that it would restrict access to programs like community health centers, Head Start, and other...

Santa Monica Assault Suspect Faces Multiple Charges, Authorities Seek Additional Victims

July 14, 2025

July 14, 2025

Marbra allegedly assaulted a 52-year-old woman on the Strand in Santa Monica, facing a felony count of assault with intent...

Newly Built Mar Vista Home with Spa and Plunge Pool Offered at $3.6M

July 14, 2025

July 14, 2025

The home’s powder room stands out with Roman Clay walls and a marble sink, while European oak floors, brass fixtures,...

Veterans Tech Group to Launch Los Angeles Chapter with Networking Event

July 14, 2025

July 14, 2025

Founded in San Francisco, VetsInTech operates 20 chapters nationwide and claims more than 60,000 veterans VetsInTech, a national nonprofit that...