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    1. Management

    L.A. Metro Board adopts updated joint development policy

    June 25, 2021
    The policy will enable the agency to build more affordable housing near transit for residents who need it most, as soon as possible.
    Related To: Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro)
    L.A. Metro
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    The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (L.A. Metro) Board of Directors adopted an updated Joint Development Policy. 

    The policy will enable the agency to build more affordable housing near transit for residents who need it most, as soon as possible. 

    In updating the Joint Development Policy, L.A. Metro says it is embracing a simple principle of prioritizing unused Metro land for low-cost housing. This will be achieved via a set of new policies that aim to maximize the agency’s ability to develop affordable housing on Metro-owned properties quickly and equitably. 

    Among the new policies: 

    • Prioritize the development of 100 percent income-restricted housing on unused Metro-owned land. 
    • To address neighborhood concerns around gentrification and displacement, L.A. Metro will use local income and rent data to help set rents for income-restricted units. 
    • If a 100 percent Income-Restricted project is not feasible or would result in fewer units, L.A. Metro will require at least 25 percent of units be set aside for household earning less than 80 percent AMI. 
    • Projects will be prioritized where the need for housing is the highest and the greatest benefit may be realized the fastest. 
    • Parking requirements will be limited to maximize the amount of space for new residential units. 
    • L.A. Metro will launch a Housing Lab to drive innovation around transit-oriented housing. 
    • L.A. Metro will continue requiring projects greater than 60 units to implement policies that encourage local employment, training opportunities and fair wages. 

    "Angelenos want and deserve a city with affordable housing and improved transportation so every family can make their rent payments, every resident can get to work and school with ease, and every individual can access opportunity and prosperity, no matter where they live," said Los Angeles Mayor and Metro Board Chair Eric Garcetti. "This updated Joint Development Policy puts our priorities into practice--ensuring that future developments keep our city on a path toward a more sustainable, affordable and livable future." 

    While L.A. Metro does not have land use authority in Los Angeles County (cities or L.A. County hold this power), it can leverage the land it owns to deliver transit-supportive uses. 

    L.A. Metro’s Vision 2028 Strategic Plan encourages the development of affordable housing near transit. L.A. Metro’s Joint Development program uses Metro-owned land—usually parcels left over from construction projects—and works to build housing and other uses on this property by partnering with private developers.  

    "Transit-oriented development on Metro-owned land near transit stops helps families reduce the two largest household expenses – housing and transportation," said L.A. Metro CEO Stephanie N. Wiggins. "How we use our land can help make the difference between a thriving community for all versus one that doesn’t work for low- and moderate-income families."