Press Release: City Releases Mural Ordinance Recommendations

The following press release came out Thursday:

The City of Los Angeles’ Department of City Planning has released the much anticipated draft Mural Ordinance Report and Recommendations in advance of a scheduled City Planning Commission hearing on July 12.

The report and draft legislation was made available to the public on Wednesday, July 27, and is expected to be accessible on the Planning Department’s website  today.

Councilmember José Huizar (CD14) has long sought resolution to the city’s decade-old ban on murals on private property, an unfortunate consequence of a past series of lawsuits challenging the city’s former art exemption.

Since 2008, Huizar has authored numerous Motions instructing the City departments to draft legislation to allow fine art murals and preserve the thousands of vintage murals coloring Los Angeles.

“Growing up in Boyle Heights, I remember when Los Angeles truly was the ‘Mural Capital of the World’,” said Councilmember Huizar “and it’s important that, through an open and public process, we create an environment where murals can flourish once again throughout the City.”

Councilmember Huizar joined with local muralists and the Departments of Planning & Cultural Affairs at Self-Help Graphics in December 2011 to announce the release of the “discussion draft” of the Mural Ordinance.

After providing direction for the ordinance in the Planning & Land Use Management (PLUM) Committee in October 2011, Huizar organized a series of workshops with artists, arts organizations, and hundreds of stakeholders to provide public feedback in the crafting of the draft ordinance.

The arts community and general public will have a full two weeks to review the Mural Ordinance Report & Recommendations before the City Planning Commission hears the item on July 12, 2012, in Room 350.

If the City Planning Commission recommends approval of the draft ordinance, the draft ordinance will move to the Planning and Land Use committee for consideration before adoption by the full City Council.

Upcoming hearings will provide further opportunities for public input. Councilmember Huizar remains committed to an open and engaged process as the mural ordinance moves forward.

Related: