LA COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF REGIONAL PLANNING
SEA Ordinance UpdateRPC Discussion Item
March 21, 2018
LA COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF REGIONAL PLANNING
Background
• July 12, 2017 – SEA Ordinance - Draft 9 presented
to RPC
• November 8, 2017 – Project taken off calendar to
allow for:
• Revision of SEA Ordinance
• Complete SEA Implementation Guide
• Conduct further outreach
• SMM North Area Plan to proceed separately
LA COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF REGIONAL PLANNING
Public Review
60-day Public Review Period
Start: 3/14/18
End: 5/14/18
• SEA Ordinance
(Public Review Draft)
• Implementation Guide
(Public Review Draft)
LA COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF REGIONAL PLANNING
Changes since Draft 9
Purpose
Definitions
Applicability
Exemptions
SEA Counseling
SEA Review
SEA CUP
SEA Development Standards
Open Space
Findings
Filing Fees
Review Procedures for County
Projects
Review Procedures for Habitat
Restoration Projects
SEATAC
LA COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF REGIONAL PLANNING
Changes since Draft 9
Development Standards & ThresholdsCreated SEA Resource categories and assigned
thresholds of disturbances
Preliminary Biological ReviewIdentify existing SEA Resources early on in the design
phase
LA COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF REGIONAL PLANNING
Changes since Draft 9
Streamlined SEA Assessment Process
• SEA-Stop – pre-application consultation/
preliminary bio review
• SEA Review – ministerial review
• SEA CUP – discretionary review
Open Space PreservationRequired open space preservation for all development
LA COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF REGIONAL PLANNING
Development Standards
• SEA Resources – limits impacts to each of 4 SEA
Resource Categories, and
• establishes 20,000 sq ft maximum building site area
• Water Resources – setbacks from lakes, ponds,
wetlands, streams, etc.
• Area-wide – standards for fencing, windows, outdoor
lighting, open space, and landscaping
• Land Use Specific – standards for crops, exploratory testing, land divisions, and large lot parcel maps
LA COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF REGIONAL PLANNING
SEA Counseling (SEA-Stop)
SEA-Stop – Pre-application review
• Biological Constraints Map (BCM) – Identify on-site SEA Resources
Recommendation:
• SEA Review – Demonstrates ability to meet development standards
• SEA CUP – Does not demonstrate ability to meet development standards and requires discretionary review
LA COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF REGIONAL PLANNING
Streamlined Assessment Process
Applicability
Exemptions
SEA Counseling
SEA Review - ministerial review
SEA CUP - discretionary review
LA COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF REGIONAL PLANNING
Streamlined Assessment Process
SEA Review -ministerial review
• Meets development
standards
• Biologist review as
part of land use
permit
• No SEATAC review
LA COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF REGIONAL PLANNING
Streamlined Assessment Process
SEA CUP -discretionary review
• Similar to current
SEA CUP process
• Does not meet
development
standards
• SEATAC review
• Public hearing
LA COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF REGIONAL PLANNING
Open Space Ratios for SEA Review
• Based on type and
amount of SEA
Resource Categories
impacted
• Open space to be
provided on-site
SEA Resource Category Impacted
Disturbance Threshold
RequiredOpen Space Preservation
Ratio
1 No disturbance N/A
2 Less than or equal to 500 sq. ft.
2:1
3 Less than or equal to 500 sq. ft.
1:1
More than 500 sq. ft. 2:1
4 More than 500 sq. ft. 1:1
5 N/A N/A
LA COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF REGIONAL PLANNING
Open Space Ratios for SEA CUP
• Based on SEA Resource
Category
• Open space can be
provided on or off-site
• Removed from SEA
Ordinance appendix
SEA Resource Category Impacted
Recommended Open Space
Preservation Ratio
1 5:1
2 4:1
3 3:1
4 2:1
5 1:1
LA COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF REGIONAL PLANNING
Implementation Guide
Contents: • Guiding Principles
• Introduction
• SEA Assessment Process
• Design
• Permit Analysis
• Biological Reports
• Habitat Restoration
• Open Space
• SEA Program Monitoring
• Review for County Projects
LA COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF REGIONAL PLANNING
Guiding Principles
Biodiversity• Recognize, identify, protect, create
Resiliency• Create and preserve connectivity,
maximize preservation, encourage
sustainable design
Public Service• Ecosystem services for all, clear
guidelines, maintain property
rights
LA COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF REGIONAL PLANNING
Chapter 1. Introduction
• Provides background
on the SEA Program
• Defines the purpose of
the Implementation
Guide
LA COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF REGIONAL PLANNING
Chapter 2. SEA Assessment Process
• Describes the basic
framework of the SEA
assessment process
• Provides a flowchart
• Explains the “SEA-Stop”
LA COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF REGIONAL PLANNING
Chapter 3. Design
• Discusses
Development
Standards in detail
• Provides illustrations
and tables
• Includes recommended
best practices and
design guidelines
LA COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF REGIONAL PLANNING
Chapter 3. Design SEA Resources
Definition –The biological and physical
natural resources which
contribute to and support
the biodiversity of SEAs and
the ecosystem services they
provide. Photo National Park Service
LA COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF REGIONAL PLANNING
Chapter 3. Design SEA Resources
Category 1 –No Disturbance
FEDERAL OR STATE LISTED
ENDANGERED, THREATENED, OR RARE SPECIES
CA NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY
RARE PLANTS RANK
1A OR 1B, 2A OR 2B, OR 3
CRITICALLY IMPERILED
NATURAL COMMUNITIES
(G1 OR S1)
WATER RESOURCES
LA COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF REGIONAL PLANNING
Category 2 –Disturbance under 500 sq ft
• 2:1 preservation
Setbacks for SEA native
trees
Chapter 3. Design SEA Resources
IMPERILED NATURAL
COMMUNITIES
(G2 OR S2)
OAK WOODLANDS
SENSITIVE LOCAL NATIVE
RESOURCES
SPECIES OF SPECIAL CONCERN
LA COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF REGIONAL PLANNING
Chapter 3. Design SEA Resources
Category 3 –Disturbance under 500 sq ft
• 1:1 preservation
Disturbance over 500 sq ft
• 2:1 preservation
VULNERABLE NATURAL
COMMUNITIES
(G3 OR S3)
LA COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF REGIONAL PLANNING
Chapter 3. Design SEA Resources
Category 4 –Disturbance under 500 sq ft
• no preservation
Disturbance over 500 sq ft
• 1:1 preservation
APPARENTLY SECURE
NATURAL COMMUNITIES
(G4 OR S4)
SECURE NATURAL
COMMUNITIES
(G5 OR S5)
CA NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY
RARE PLANTS RANK 4
LA COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF REGIONAL PLANNING
Chapter 3. Design SEA Resources
Category 5 –• Previously disturbed
• No preservation required
“…often play a vital role in wildlife movement and protection of SEA Resources…”
DISTURBED OR ISOLATED RESOURCES
WHICH CONTINUE TO PROVIDE
HABITAT, SERVE AS LINKAGES, OR ACT
AS BUFFERS
LA COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF REGIONAL PLANNING
Chapter 3. Design Water Resources
Setbacks required for:• Lakes, reservoirs and ponds
• Marshes, seeps and springs
• Vernal pools and playas
• Rivers and streams
Fuel Modification ZoneStream Setback
LA COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF REGIONAL PLANNING
Chapter 3. Design Area-Wide
…to ensure preservation of natural habitat
and wildlife movement opportunities… p. 26
Non-reflectivewindows
protect birds
Open-design fencing using visible & non-harmful materials keeps wildlife safe and allows movement between habitats
Low & shielded outdoor lighting
protects nocturnal animals
Avoiding invasive plants in landscape protects native
vegetation and habitats
Fuel Modification ZoneProtected Open Space
Keeping fuel modification & brush clearance out of
preserved open spaceensures habitat protection
LA COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF REGIONAL PLANNING
Chapter 3. Design Land Use Specific
• Crops
• Exploratory Testing
• Land Divisions
• Large Lot Parcel Maps
Before development Conventional subdivision > 75% preservation
Source: Lacy, Ritchie & Russell, NRPZ – The Green Side of Smart Growth
LA COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF REGIONAL PLANNING
Chapter 4. Permit Analysis
• Discusses each step of
the SEA assessment
process
• Provides guidance for
Staff on processing
applications for
development in SEAs
LA COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF REGIONAL PLANNING
Chapter 5. Biological Reports
Example BiologicalConstraints Map
LA COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF REGIONAL PLANNING
Chapter 6. Habitat Restoration
• Ensure methodologies
and practices are in
line with goals and
policies of the SEA
Program
• Monitor where and how
restoration is taking
place within SEAs
LA COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF REGIONAL PLANNING
Chapter 7. Open Space
• Guidance on where
to preserve open
space
• Descriptions of
allowable
mechanisms
LA COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF REGIONAL PLANNING
Chapter 8. SEA Program Monitoring
Monitoring and reporting
guidelines to ensure
continued effectiveness of
the SEA Program
LA COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF REGIONAL PLANNING
Chapter 9. County Project Review
Defines circumstances
and processes for County
projects in SEAs
LA COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF REGIONAL PLANNING
Implementation Guide
Appendices: • Tree Species List
• Sensitive Local Native
Resources
• Invasive Plants List
• SEA Checklists &
Worksheets
LA COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF REGIONAL PLANNING
Next Steps
LA COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF REGIONAL PLANNING
Public Engagement
• Scheduled meetings
with stakeholders
• Pop-up events in
communities
• Email campaigns &
Postcard mailings
LA COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF REGIONAL PLANNING
Public Engagement
Social Media - #SEAwednesdays
SEA Blog – user friendly website
LA COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF REGIONAL PLANNING
Questions?