CENTURY CITY / URBAN CONCEPTUAL DESIGN PLAN

Motion - Century City is a commercial and residential area that serves as an important business center and was originally designed as a second "downtown" for Los Angeles. The Century City area is a designated Regional Center that includes high rise office buildings, the Westfield Century City Shopping Center, and a large hotel. Soon the area will include a cultural pavilion and high rise residential buildings. Century City is moving toward being a true "live work play" district. Given Century City's regional significance with approximately 40,000 jobs drawing workers from all corners of the region, demand for transit and modeshare programs is growing. To achieve the original vision for the area, pedestrian-and transit-related improvements are especially important for Century City. The existing Century City North Specific Plan does not currently contain any design guidelines or standards that provide for the enhancement of the pedestrian-and transit oriented nature of Century City. Working with a Council District 5 Task Force of Century City property owners, Rios Clementi Hale Studios, the Los Angeles Architecture, Landscape, and Planning firm, was commissioned to initiate a draft urban conceptual design plan for Century City. The urban conceptual design plan will include elements to calm traffic, improve pedestrian safety, enhance the streetscape, encourage alternate transportation modes such as public transit and walking, and provide a safer, healthier urban and pedestrian environment. Rios Clementi Hale has prepared and is ready to present its draft urban conceptual design plan to the community and City Planning Department for review. The City of Los Angeles should now begin a public process to solicit input from the communities in and around Century City and other stakeholders. THEREFORE MOVE that the City Council request that the Planning Department work with the Council Office for Council District 5, the community, and interested stakeholders to review the draft urban design guidelines conceptual design plan in conjunction with the Century City North Specific Plan. FURTHER MOVE that the City Council request that the Planning Department and other City departments allocate budget and staff as necessary to review and process the draft plan as input for the preparation of an urban design guidelines appendix to the Century City North Specific Plan.