Citing a need to address the impacts of Los Angeles' housing shortage on vulnerable communities, City Councilmember Jose Huizar has proposed the development of an inclusionary zoning strategy for Boyle Heights.

Inclusionary zoning, also called inclusionary housing, is a policy which requires that market-rate residential developments set aside a certain percentage of units for lower-income households.  Jurisdictions across California have implemented variations of inclusionary zoning, including West Hollywood, which requires a 20 percent affordability component in new apartment complexes.

Huizar writes that "the overwhelming majority of the rental housing units within Boyle Heights are protected under the City's Rent Stabilization Ordinance."  But despite this, the need for affordable housing continues to outpace supply.

Huizar's proposal has been referred to the City Council's Planning and Land Use Management Committee for consideration.  If adopted, it would direct the Department of City Planning to conduct a housing market study for the Boyle Heights to craft an inclusionary zoning strategy for the neighborhood.  The program would be implemented prior to the adoption of the updated Boyle Heights Community Plan.

Huizar joins two other members of the City Council in calling for inclusionary housing in part of their district.

San Fernando Valley Councilmember Bob Blumenfield has called for adding affordability requirements to the Warner Center 2035 Plan, the guiding document for development in parts of Woodland Hills and Canoga Park.

1st District Councilmember Gil Cedillo has pushed to reinstitute the inclusionary housing provisions of the Central City West Specific Plan, which were invalidated by a lawsuit in 2009, and has separately called for expanding the policy citywide.