UCLA research found LA housing projects spend 652 days stuck in approval processes. Cutting approval times by 25% would increase housing production by 13.5%
UCLA research found LA housing projects spend 652 days stuck in approval processes. Cutting approval times by 25% would increase housing production by 13.5%

cayimby.org
So Many Forms, So Few Homes: How L.A. Made Housing a Waiting Game - California YIMBY

The obvious solution would be to increase city staffing for the review and approval process.
The inevitable political solution will be to cut requirements for approvals, with negative impacts on safety and the environment.
I fully agree with what you are saying here. The problem is not the requirements, it is whether the city is willing to fund the staffing to properly manage the approval process/departments.