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Projects and Overlays From Previous Plans
In addition to opportunity mapping, the Master Plan includes the Known Projects Database, a survey of constructed, in-development, and planned projects within LA County.
More than 1,800 projects were aggregated from over 140 plans. Planned and in-development projects within a quarter-mile of the LA River were assessed in terms of scale and goals, and 56 of these–including 13 linear projects such as trails and bikeways–were brought forward as “planned major projects” for the LA River Master Plan. More detail about these individual projects can be found in Appendix Volume II: Technical Backup Document.
Overlays
Four planning “overlays” were also identified through the Known Projects Database. Given their geographic breadth, they operate within the Master Plan by providing guiding principles rather than existing as discrete projects. Each overlay originates from significant river-specific planning efforts and is thus grounded in knowledge that can inform the development of future projects:
LA River Revitalization Master Plan – River Improvement Overlay Zone (2007)
The City of LA River Improvement Overlay (RIO) was developed out of the LA River Revitalization Master Plan. It is a 32-mile zoning overlay that establishes an area in which new projects must comply with certain design standards related to three categories: watershed, urban design, and mobility. The RIO is intended to help the city coordinate land use development along the river, enhance the unique qualities of the river, and better serve adjacent communities within the city’s boundaries.
ARBOR Study – Habitat Restoration Zone (2015)
The City of LA River Ecosystem Restoration Integrated Feasibility Report and its Recommended Plan (also known as the ARBOR Study) present potential alternatives for environmental restoration of an 11-mile stretch of the LA River that includes the soft-bottomed Glendale Narrows. The study analyzes the environmental impacts of implementing those alternatives, reviews the process for selecting the best alternative, and concludes with recommendations for project implementation.
Lower LA River Revitalization Plan – Opportunity Zones (2017)
Opportunity zones are comprised of publicly-owned open spaces and other areas with revitalization potential, as determined through the Lower LA River Revitalization Plan. Each opportunity zone is associated with a set of objectives based on existing conditions and context, as well as strategies for achieving those objectives. The LLARRP also details the “opportunity potential” of each zone to address various focus areas of the overall plan, such as water and environment.
Planning Overlays
Upper Los Angeles River Tributaries Revitalization Plan Opportunity Areas (2020)
In 2017, the California Governor approved Assembly Bill No. 466 (AB 466), which established the Upper Los Angeles River and Tributaries Working Group within the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy. The bill tasked the Working Group with watershed-based planning and community engagement efforts that resulted in the Upper Los Angeles Tributaries (ULART) Revitalization Plan. The plan identifies over 300 proposed opportunities to protect, enhance, and restore the Upper Los Angeles River and its tributaries, including Pacoima Wash, Tujunga Wash, Verdugo Wash, and Arroyo Seco. It focuses on multi-benefit projects that prioritize the restoration of natural habitats, increase green areas and open space, and engage underserved communities. The LA River Master Plan and ULART teams coordinated data and site locations during the Master Plan process.