LA County is growing, with increasing demand for homes, buildings, and the infrastructure needed to support them. The way we choose to direct that growth has huge implications for the environment, the economy, and social equity. Patterns of exurban sprawl and development in high climate-hazard areas can place burdens on our infrastructure and public budgets, especially for unincorporated communities where the County of Los Angeles acts as the municipal service provider. Proposals for outward growth raise the question of whether to build whole new communities or to invest in our existing communities, where we can promote sustainability, health, and well-being by improving walkability and promoting a mixture of uses.
By rethinking our growth pattern, we can more effectively protect our low-income residents and small businesses from development-driven displacement. With policy tools such as anti-displacement measures, existing community members can remain in and strengthen their neighborhoods and networks while accommodating new residents through more compact, mixed-use development. To accomplish this, future land use and development decisions in LA County should pursue outcomes that are inclusive, safe, healthy, accessible, and transit-oriented.
Ensure that public investments do not facilitate displacement, particularly of disadvantaged communities
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