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.
Each Commission adopts Rules and Operating Procedures, pursuant to the authority set forth in Charter Section 506, to assist the Commission in conducting City business consistent with law. Rules and Operating Procedures for each Commission are linked below.
For additional information, contact the Commission Office: (213) 978-1300.
Read the rules and operating procedures that were adopted pursuant to the authority set forth in Charter Section 506 to assist the City Planning Commission (CPC) in conducting City business. 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.
Caroline Choe
Vice-President
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.
Priscilla Chavez
Member
Priscilla Chavez is a Los Angeles native and business development executive with over 15 years of experience advancing public infrastructure, equitable contracting, and workforce policy. She currently serves as Manager of Business Development for PCL Construction Services – California Buildings, where she leads strategic pursuits across civic, education, and private sector markets. Her expertise spans preconstruction planning, entitlement strategy, workforce integration, and stakeholder alignment, developed through years of guiding complex, multi-agency projects in Southern California.
A former diversity and workforce strategist, Priscilla has built programs that connect policy to implementation, launching countless careers and advancing equitable access to economic opportunity. She previously served as a Commissioner on the City of Los Angeles Workforce Development Board and as President of the National Association of Women in Construction (Los Angeles). She brings to the Commission a grounded perspective shaped by purpose, policy, planning, and people, committed to land use decisions that foster equity, opportunity, and long-term value for Los Angeles communities.
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.
Sarah Johnson
Member
Coming Soon
Brian Rosentein
Member
Commissioner Rosenstein is an experienced real estate professional currently serving as the Chief Executive Officer of Brookhill Corp., a Los Angeles based real estate asset management company. He is a 4th generation Angeleno and has a vast and diverse resume of civic and non-profit volunteer service in the Los Angeles area. Commissioner Rosenstein is currently serving as a Board Member and Vice-President of the Wilbur May Foundation, a Trustee of the Archer School for Girls, an Advisory Board Member for the Venice Family Clinic and has previously served on the Board & Executive Committee of the Los Angeles LGBT Center.
Prior to being appointed to the Los Angeles City Planning Commission, Commissioner Rosenstein served as a Beverly Hills City Planning Commissioner, Vice-Chair & Chair, a Traffic & Parking Commissioner, member of the Beverly Hills Mayor’s Cabinet and City Council Small Business Task Force as well as the Chamber Economic Development Council & Government Affairs Committee. Commissioner Rosenstein is the recipient of the President’s Volunteer Service Award, the Edgar F. Magnin Award for Community Service from illcrest Country Club, and is a Paul Harris Fellow with Rotary International. Commissioner Rosenstein is a proud graduate of the California State University-Northridge and lives in Mar Vista with his wife, two children, 3 cats and a dog.
Elizabeth Zamora
Member
Coming Soon
