The Northside Plan Update
An Opportunity to Plan for the Future
This is an opportunity to transform approximately 340 acres of under-utilized land to better serve the Westchester and Playa del Rey communities, the people of Los Angeles, and LAX. Why now? Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) is preparing for current and future demand for use of the property and responding to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requirements for productive use of the land. The updated LAX Northside Plan would complement community efforts to revitalize and support local businesses, provide more jobs, meet the needs of the airport and of local groups, and address the growing demand for open space for our communities.
The Northside Plan is subject to a number of local, state, and federal regulations and trends, which include:
City of Los Angeles planning regulations govern permissible development
at LAX.
The FAA places limits on types of development, on specific uses, on landscaping, and also imposes rules which require fair market value for any future use.
The County requires compatible land uses on properties adjacent to airports.
The LAX Northside Plan must and will comply with all applicable California Environmental
Quality Act (CEQA) and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) regulations.
Many uses have been proposed for this land over the years. Today’s marketplace is
very different from even a few years ago. The final proposal must reflect the demands
of current and future economic conditions.
Why is it called the Northside Plan Update?
The land was originally acquired by LAX more than 30 years ago for development between
the airport and the adjacent community, and planning began in the 1980’s. The first
proposal for the site was called the LAX Northside Plan, which was approved in 1984
for over 4.5 million square feet of commercial development. The current effort to
modernize the proposal is known as the LAX Northside Plan Update.
