The City Charter established the nine-member City Planning Commission (CPC), which provides recommendations to the Mayor, City Council, and Director of Planning on land use policies and proposed development projects.
Another body, the Cultural Heritage Commission, oversees the designation and protection of local landmarks.
Area Planning Commissions (APCs) represent seven regions of the City: North Valley, South Valley, West Los Angeles, Central, East Los Angeles, South Los Angeles, and Harbor. Each APC hears a range of cases from its assigned geographic area, ranging from certain smaller-scale projects to appeals.
Each of these commissions is led by volunteer residents of the City of Los Angeles. Listed below are their names, head shots, and bios. For additional information, contact the Commission Office: (213) 978-1300.
Click here to read the rules and operating procedures that were adopted pursuant to the authority set forth in Charter Section 506 to assist the Commission in conducting City business consistent with law. For more information, contact: cpc@lacity.org.
Monique Lawshe
President
Commissioner Lawshe, a seasoned real estate development and acquisitions professional, has been instrumental in the significant growth of two Los Angeles-based real estate companies – A Community of Friends, a non-profit development company, and GHC Housing Partners, a nationally recognized owner and operator of affordable housing. She remains a Partner in GHC Housing Partners’s affiliate PK Management LLC and was formerly the CEO of A Community of Friends. Ms. Lawshe completed a Master of Business Administration degree, with a concentration in Real Estate Finance, at the Anderson School at UCLA and has a B.S. in Industrial Management/Industrial Engineering from Purdue University. Her Board Member experience includes the UCLA Ziman Center for Real Estate, UCLA Center Affordable Housing Advisory Council, and the UCLA Hospital Geriatrics Advisory Board. Ms. Lawshe enjoys traveling and skiing and is a caregiver to her 98-year-old dad and two much younger cats.
Michael Newhouse
Vice-President
Commissioner Newhouse is an experienced Real Estate, Land Use & Planning and Environmental Attorney. He currently serves as the Managing Shareholder of Newhouse Law Group, PC, and is a licensed Real Estate Broker and Principal of The Newhouse Group, Inc. He is also a longtime volunteer in his community, having served as past President of the West Los Angeles Area Planning Commission, the Venice Neighborhood Council, the Westside Regional Alliance of Councils (WRAC) and as Board Chair and Pro Bono Legal Counsel to Venice Arts. Mr. Newhouse holds BAs from the University of Southern California in Environmental Studies and Political Science and a Juris Doctorate from the Northwestern School of Law of Lewis & Clark College, with a Certificate in Natural Resources Law. Mr. Newhouse lives in Venice with his wife, sons and dogs, enjoys restoring and renovating older homes and is a passionate musician, athlete and traveler.
Maria Cabildo
Member
Commissioner Cabildo is a lifelong Angeleno who was born and raised in East Los Angeles. She has a long career in public service. She has held positions in the philanthropic, nonprofit, private, and government sectors, including serving as the CEO of the East LA Community Corporation, a nonprofit community-based affordable housing developer, from 1999-2015. Maria has served as an appointee on state and local boards, including Los Angeles' City Planning Commission (2013-2015), LAUSD's Construction Bond Citizens' Oversight Committee, and the California Housing Partnership Corporation. Currently, she serves as an appointee to the board of directors of the California Housing Finance Agency (CALHFA) and the City of Los Angeles’ City Planning Commission. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Columbia University, a master’s degree from UCLA’s Luskin School of Public Affairs, and a Certificate in Advanced Environmental Studies from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design.
Caroline Choe
Member
Commissioner Choe is a principal in NewBridge Investments, an investment arm of a privately held company responsible for real estate investments and lending throughout California. She is a founding board member of the Harvard-Westlake Korean-American Alumni Network and a member of United Way of Greater Los Angeles' board and Community Impact Cabinet. Ms. Choe holds bachelor's degrees in Finance, Economics, and Spanish from Carnegie Mellon University, a master's in Real Estate Development from USC, and a master's in Business Administration from UCLA.
Martina Diaz
Member
Commissioner Diaz has over 30 years of professional experience in the environmental field in the public and private sector including over 10 years’ experience in management. She has a broad range of experience in program implementation, policy development and extensive knowledge and experience in enforcement of air pollution laws, redevelopment, and site assessment. She previously served as Commissioner in various capacities including as President of the North Valley Area Planning Commission. She resides in the Northeast San Fernando Valley and is actively involved in civic activities in her community. Ms. Diaz has a Bachelor of Science in Health and Safety from the California State University Los Angeles and a master’s degree in public administration from the California State University Northridge. Ms. Diaz is passionate about the environment and about protecting our natural resources. She enjoys the outdoors, particularly hiking through the Southern California trails, and loves exploring new places and trails during her second favorite hobby, traveling.
Karen E. Mack
Member
Commissioner Mack is the founder of LA Commons, a South LA-based nonprofit implementing artistic and cultural programs that reflect the unique character of diverse neighborhoods and give residents, particularly young people, a voice and an on-ramp to making positive change across the city. Prior to her work with LA Commons, she served as a Public Service Fellow at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University and Vice President at Community Partners. Ms. Mack holds an MPA from Harvard University and an MBA from the John Anderson School of Management at UCLA, and she is co-chair of the national initiative, Creative Placemaking from the Community Up.
Elizabeth Zamora
Member
Coming Soon
