Los Angeles Eldercare Facility Unified Permit
Updated: May 25, 2021
The eldercare facility unified permit allows the Zoning Administrator, as the initial decision maker, may, upon application, permit an Eldercare Facility to be located on a lot or lots in the A1 through R3 Zones, or in the RAS3, R4, RAS4, R5, and all C Zones, when an Eldercare Facility does not meet the use, area, or height provisions of the respective zone.
The Los Angeles Municipal Code outlines the eldercare facility unified permit development standards here:
https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/los_angeles/latest/lamc/0-0-0-120865
In order to qualify for an eldercare permit, a project must minimally meet these six criteria:
1. the strict application of the land use regulations on the subject property would result in practical difficulties or unnecessary hardships inconsistent with the general purpose and intent of the zoning regulations;
2. that the project's location, size, height, operations and other significant features shall be compatible with and shall not adversely affect or further degrade adjacent properties, the surrounding neighborhood, or the public health, welfare, and safety;
3. that the project shall provide services to the elderly such as housing, medical services, social services, or long-term care to meet citywide demand;
4. that the project shall not create an adverse impact on street access or circulation in the surrounding neighborhood;
5. that the project provides for an arrangement of uses, buildings, structures, open spaces and other improvements that are compatible with the scale and character of the adjacent properties and surrounding neighborhood; and
6. that the project is in substantial conformance with the purposes, intent and provisions of the General Plan, applicable community plan, and with any applicable specific plan.
Although the development standards are stated in the municipal code, there is no set of criteria that can be strictly and repeatedly applied as it requires a set of subjective findings to be met in order to be approved. What is helpful is to study current and previous cases with the use of the permit to try and better understand it's limits and viability as a tool. The study of project locations, applications, findings, site plans, CEQA studies, and the implementation of the eldercare facility unified permit can help facilitate a better understanding of what makes care based senior housing projects feasible in the Los Angeles area.
The goal is to make this blog post a working tool for those interested in better understanding the use, implementation, and application of the Los Angeles Eldercare Facility Unified Permit. See below for twenty five cases that have implemented the use of the permit.
All information provided is obtained from publicly available sources and nothing proprietary is included. If any project sponsors have concerns regarding the information being shared, please contact me directly at dustin@dlsmithco.com
Reseda & Chatsworth - 87 Assisted Living Unit and 27 Memory Care Units
See below for links to the 2021 Case Information, 2021 Planning Application, Findings, and Preliminary Project Plans.
Case Information & Documents - Los Angel
.
Download • 226KB
Application
.pdf
Download PDF • 1.12MB
Findings
.pdf
Download PDF • 849KB
Site Plan
.pdf
Download PDF • 20.62MB
Ararat Home Mission Hills - 101 Independent Living units, 159 Memory Care units, 78 Assisted Living units, and 96 Skilled Nursing Units
See below for links to the 2021 Case Information, 2021 Planning Application, and Preliminary Project Plans.
Case Information & Documents - Los Angel
.
Download • 227KB
Application
.pdf
Download PDF • 3.57MB
Project Plans
.pdf
Download PDF • 46.26MB
Roxbury - 48 Independent Living units and 9 Assisted Living units
See below for links to the 2018 Case Information, 2018 Planning Application, Findings, Letter of Determination, 2018 Conceptual Plans, Renderings, Appeal, 2019 Case Information, 2019 Application, 2019 Conceptual Plans, and Neighborhood Council Report.
Case Information & Documents_R(2018)
.pdf
Download PDF • 156KB
Application_R(2018)
.pdf
Download PDF • 1.89MB
Findings_R
.pdf
Download PDF • 156KB
Letter of Determination_R
.pdf
Download PDF • 1.61MB
Site Plan_R(2018)
.pdf
Download PDF • 33.07MB
Renderings_R
.pdf
Download PDF • 2.05MB
Appeal_R
.pdf
Download PDF • 17.09MB
Case Information & Documents_R(2019)
.pdf
Download PDF • 146KB
Application_R(2019)
.pdf
Download PDF • 2.15MB
Site Plan_R(2019)
.pdf
Download PDF • 25.89MB
Neighborhood Land Use_R
.pdf
Download PDF • 187KB
Sherbourne Senior Housing - 48 Assisted Living units and 8 Memory Care units
See below for links to the Case Information, Neighborhood Council Guidelines, Neighborhood Council Board Motion, and Conceptual Plans.
Case Information & Documents_Pico
.pdf
Download PDF • 54KB
Neighborhood Council_Pico
.pdf
Download PDF • 62KB
Neighborhood Council Board Motion_Pico
.p
Download P • 712KB
Site Plan_Pico
.pdf
Download PDF • 7.28MB
Warner Center Life Plan Community - 566 Independent Living units and 129 Assisted Living/Memory Care units.
See below for links to the Case Information, Application, Findings, Neighborhood Council Review, and Conceptual Plans.
Case Information & Documents_WC
.pdf
Download PDF • 162KB
Application_WC
.pdf
Download PDF • 2.10MB
Findings_WC
.pdf
Download PDF • 831KB
Neighborhood Committee_WC
.pdf
Download PDF • 78KB
Site Plan_WC
.pdf
Download PDF • 26.76MB
WC Plum_WC
.pdf
Download PDF • 562KB
Los Angeles Jewish Home (Reseda) - Phased expansion of existing senior living community
See below for links to the Case Information, Application, 2013 Letter of Determination, Correction Letters, Extension Letter, 2018 Letter of Determination, Modification Letter, and Conceptual Plans.
Case Information & Documents_FVW
.pdf
Download PDF • 294KB
Application_FVW
.pdf
Download PDF • 2.85MB
2013 Letter of Determination_FVW
.pdf
Download PDF • 3.49MB
Correction Letters_FVW
.pdf
Download PDF • 2.64MB
Extension Letter_FVW
.pdf
Download PDF • 62KB
2018 Letter of Determination_FVW
.pdf
Download PDF • 467KB
Modification Letter_FVW
.pdf
Download PDF • 2.04MB
Site Plan_FVW
.pdf
Download PDF • 18.98MB
Holt Ave AL/MC - 62 Assisted Living units and 18 Memory Care units
See below for links to the Case Information, Planning Application, Conceptual Plans, Landscape Plan, and Findings.
Case Information & Documents_Holt
.pdf
Download PDF • 108KB
Application_Holt
.pdf
Download PDF • 2.56MB
Site Plan_Holt
.pdf
Download PDF • 6.71MB
Landscape_Holt
.pdf
Download PDF • 3.75MB
Findings_Holt
.pdf
Download PDF • 3.17MB
Letter of Determination
.pdf
Download PDF • 305KB
Eagle Rock AL MC - 87 Assisted Living units and 28 Memory Care units
See below for links to the Case Information, Planning Application, Conceptual Plans, Landscape Plan, and Findings.
Eagle Rock_Case Information & Documents_
.
Download • 161KB
Application_ER
.pdf
Download PDF • 914KB
Site Plan_ER
.pdf
Download PDF • 8.47MB
Landscape_ER
.pdf
Download PDF • 3.05MB
Findings_ER
.pdf
Download PDF • 135KB
ParkPointe Encino - 66 Assisted Living units and 24 Memory Care units
See below for links to the Case Information, Community Presentation, Planning Application, Conceptual Plans, and Findings.
Case Information & Documents_Enc
.pdf
Download PDF • 167KB
Presentation_Enc
.pdf
Download PDF • 733KB
Application_Enc
.pdf
Download PDF • 1.17MB
Site Plan_Enc
.pdf
Download PDF • 18.50MB
Findings_Enc
.pdf
Download PDF • 893KB
The Bellwood - 71 Independent Living units, 75 Assisted Living units, and 46 Memory Care units.
See below for links to the Case Information, Planning Application, Findings, Initial Study, and Conceptual Plans.
Case Information & Documents_Bellwood
.pd
Download PD • 164KB
Application_Bellwood
.pdf
Download PDF • 378KB
Findings_Bellwood
.pdf
Download PDF • 491KB
Initial Study_Bellwood
.pdf
Download PDF • 16.99MB
Site Plan_Bellwood
.pdf
Download PDF • 16.60MB
Belmont Village Senior Living Westwood II - 53 Independent Living units, 77 Assisted Living units, and 46 Memory Care units.
See below for links to the Case Application, Planning Application, Findings, and Conceptual Plans.
Case Information & Documents_BVWWII
.pdf
Download PDF • 46KB
Application_BVWWII
.pdf
Download PDF • 2.18MB
Findings_BVWWII
.pdf
Download PDF • 2.37MB
Entitlement Plans_BVWWII
.pdf
Download PDF • 89.90MB
Encino Senior Living - 107 Assisted Living units and 16 Memory Care units
See below for links to the Case Information, Community Presentation, Planning Application, Findings, Conceptual Plans, and Determination Letter.
Case Information & Documents_Encino SL
.p
Download P • 54KB
Presentation_Encino SL
.pdf
Download PDF • 57.38MB
Application_Encino SL
.pdf
Download PDF • 5.18MB
Findings_Encino SL
.pdf
Download PDF • 2.54MB
Site Plan_Encino SL
.pdf
Download PDF • 17.99MB
Determination Letter_Encino SL
.pdf
Download PDF • 914KB
Mar Vista - 65 Assisted Living units and 20 Memory Care units
See below for links to the Case Information, Planning Application, Findings, Community Presentation, Conceptual Plans, Initial Letter of Determination, Appeal, CEQA Notice of Exemption, and Final Determination.
Case Information & Documents_Mar Vista
.p
Download P • 55KB
Findings (excerpt)_Mar Vista
.pdf
Download PDF • 3.64MB
Application_Mar Vista
.pdf
Download PDF • 1.32MB
Presentation_Mar Vista
.pdf
Download PDF • 2.22MB
Site Plan_Mar Vista
.pdf
Download PDF • 1.06MB
Initial Letter of Determination_Mar Vist
.
Download • 25.79MB
Appeal_Mar Vista
.pdf
Download PDF • 1.03MB
Notice of Exemption_Mar Vista
.pdf
Download PDF • 42KB
Final Letter of Determination_Mar Vista
Download • 1.11MB
The Watermark at Westwood Village - 226 Eldercare units
See below for links to the Case Information, Letter of Determination, Withdrawal Letter, Landscape Plan, and Renderings.
Case Information & Documents_WW
.pdf
Download PDF • 197KB
2015 Determination Letter_WW
.pdf
Download PDF • 232KB
Letter of Determination_WW
.pdf
Download PDF • 910KB
Withdrawl_WW
.pdf
Download PDF • 52KB
Landscape Plan_WW
.pdf
Download PDF • 2.05MB
Renderings_WW
.pdf
Download PDF • 1.12MB
Welbrook Woodland Hills - 50 Assisted Living units
See below for links to the Case Information, Letters of Determination, Appeal, News Articles, Legal Proceedings, and Conceptual Site Plan.
Case Information & Documents_Wellbrook
.p
Download P • 209KB
Determination_5.2.12
.pdf
Download PDF • 1.92MB
Appeal_7.23.12
.pdf
Download PDF • 4.60MB
Determination_1.11.17
.pdf
Download PDF • 1.24MB
Determination_4.5.17
.pdf
Download PDF • 1.33MB
News Articles_WWH
.pdf
Download PDF • 257KB
Legal_WWH
.pdf
Download PDF • 1.12MB
Site Plan_WWH
.pdf
Download PDF • 41.30MB
Geneva Street - 132 Eldercare units
See below for links to the Case Information, Letter of Determination, and Conceptual Site Plan.
Case Information & Documents_Geneva
.pdf
Download PDF • 98KB
Letter of Determination_Geneva
.pdf
Download PDF • 319KB
Site Plan_Geneva
.pdf
Download PDF • 28.15MB
Palisades Drive RCFE - 82 Eldercare units
See below for links to the Case Information, Application, Findings, Letter of Determination, Appeal Determination, and Conceptual Plans.
Case Information & Documents_Palisades
.p
Download P • 215KB
Application_Palisades
.pdf
Download PDF • 3.28MB
Findings_Palisades
.pdf
Download PDF • 1.15MB
Letter of Determination_Palisades
.pdf
Download PDF • 18.90MB
Appeal Decision Report_Palisades
.pdf
Download PDF • 825KB
Site Plan_Palisades
.pdf
Download PDF • 644KB
Urban Commons Gramercy - 146 Eldercare units
See below for links to the Case Information, Initial Study, Letter of Determination, and Conceptual Site Plan.
Case Information & Documents_Oly
.pdf
Download PDF • 79KB
Initial Study_Oly
.pdf
Download PDF • 15.36MB
Letter of Determination_Oly
.pdf
Download PDF • 2.12MB
Site Plan_Oly
.PDF
Download PDF • 4.31MB
Sherman Oaks Senior Care - 58 Eldercare units
See below for links to the Case Information, Application, Findings, Letter of Determination, and Conceptual Site Plan.
Case Information & Documents_Burbank
.pdf
Download PDF • 85KB
Application_Burbank
.pdf
Download PDF • 561KB
Findings_Burbank
.pdf
Download PDF • 123KB
Letter of Determination_Burbank
.pdf
Download PDF • 1.52MB
Site Plan_Burbank
.pdf
Download PDF • 6.06MB
Los Angeles Jewish Home (Beverly) - 100 Eldercare units
See below for links to the Case Information, Application, Findings, Letter of Determination, Conditions of Approval, and Conceptual Site Plan.