Amid criticism that the city of Los Angeles has not moved fast enough to rebuild Palisard in the Pacific after the Palisade fire, Mayor Karen Bass said Wednesday that the city will expand eligibility for environmental requirements while providing a “pre-approved code violation.”
Under the new executive order, the city is expanding its single-family home eligibility category, allowing it to bypass the land use planning and zoning ordinances normally required under the California Coastal Act and the California Environmental Quality Act known as the CEQA.
“Emergency Executive Order 8 guarantees everyone considering rebuilding, including those looking to build a different home than the previous one, or those seeking to use this opportunity to expand or redesign their homes.
Additionally, the city plans to release a library of home designs “compliant with pre-approved codes,” so reconstructions can be quickly tracked using one of the plans.
The city is also asking architects to submit mockups for a virtual library of pre-approved home designs.
“Now is the time to remove barriers, accelerate progress and ensure that all Angelenos have a clear path to rebuild their homes,” Bass said in her order. “By reducing both timeline and design costs, the program offers a faster, more affordable route to recovery for Angeleno, affected by wildfires.”
The pilot program launches a virtual library of pre-approved designs should be available within 30 days of her executive order.
City officials said more than 85% of the wreckage from the homes destroyed in the Palisade fire have been removed, and nearly 300 reconstruction plans have been approved.
Despite the city’s efforts, Palisade residents have expressed concern about the pace at which properties will be allowed to be rebuilt, which were damaged or destroyed during the brush fire in January.
As of early July, unincorporated Los Angeles County received 1,207 restructuring applications, but only 90 permits.
The Los Angeles Building Bureau reported that it had received applications for reconstruction of 360 addresses affected by the Palisade fire. Of these, 70 addresses were granted.
One of the critics, Rich Caruso, a former mayoral candidate who lost to Mayor Bass, said the city and state weren’t moving fast enough to rebuild Pallisad.
“The real problem is culture and attitude. You need to wipe the red tape table clean,” Caruso told NBC Los Angeles on July 7.
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