Board of Supervisors OK’s Updated Development Standards for Chapman Woods

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors today unanimously voted to implement newly updated development standards for Chapman Woods, a small residential community nestled in an unincorporated portion of East Pasadena.

The new standards are designed to preserve the neighborhood’s character and prevent mansionization.

The vote came after a public hearing at which leaders from the Los Angeles County Department of Regional Planning presented the new Chapman Woods Community Standards District Ordinance.

The ordinance was updated with input from local community members and includes development standards such as building height, setbacks, and gross floor area.

“Chapman Woods is a historic neighborhood with distinct architectural styles that mirror its unique history and reflect the community as a whole,” said Supervisor Kathryn Barger. “Unfortunately, the community has recently experienced haphazard development patterns. I believe our County must do everything in its power to safeguard our local neighborhoods’ look and feel. These updated development standards take a balanced approach that do not constrain private property rights yet continue orderly development standards. I appreciate the community’s input that was cultivated to inform them. A bottom-up approach to development is essential.”

Supervisor Barger also noted that although new state laws drafted to address the affordable housing crisis supersede local development standards and ordinances, this ordinance can serve as a template through its use of incentives that encourage development aligned with the community’s character.

The updated ordinance includes a list of community-identified architectural styles present in the area, such as Craftsman, Ranch, and Colonial. If a developer elects to follow all the standards for the identified architectural styles, then the construction project will qualify for incentives specified in the ordinance.