This house at 437 Holyoke is still standing, but there has been a request to build a duplex on this area (and includes 425 Mt. Holyoke) that overlooks Temescal Canyon.
When Senate Bill 9 became a California state law January 1, 2022, opponents said the intention was to effectively eliminate single-family zoning.
In simple words, a lot in the Alphabet Streets could be split with one duplex and up to two ADUs per unit, meaning that multiple families could occupy a lot where one family used to live.
According to Pacific Palisades Community Council At-Large representative Chris Spitz, “That means dozens of people with potentially dozens of cars, most of which will have to be parked on the street, further clogging these arteries and making ingress and egress in emergencies difficult if not impossible, at least on the block where that new SB 9 project is located.”
About 20 percent of the Alphabet Streets violate the fire code by being too narrow for a 26-foot-fire truck.
“And that is just the result of one SB 9 project on a given block,” Spitz said. “Multiple such projects on a block or within a nearby area would potentially create even more of a public safety disaster.”
According to Palibuilds.com, there are seven applications for duplexes, which include 1006 Kagawa, 1301 Amalfi Drive, 768 and 732 Hartzell, 1116 Galloway, 437 Mount Holyoke (and 425 Holyoke)and 536 Bienveneda. The permits have not been approved, yet.
The Westside Regional Alliance of Councils (WRAC), of which Pacific Palisades Community Council is a member, the City of Los Angeles, the League of California Cities and numerous municipalities opposed SB 9. Spitz authored a report for WRAC in 2021 https://pacpalicc.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Background-re-SB-9-and-10.pdfsent to
The law does NOT give exemptions for properties in the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone (VHFHSZ), including Pacific Palisades. Under SB 9, a project in LA (including in fire zones such as the Palisades) that complies with “fire mitigation measures” (as determined by LAFD or other local fire authorities) is NOT exempt and must be allowed.
One resident wrote a letter to Councilmember Traci Park, which was shared with CTN:
“As you know, many of us were stuck in gridlock on January 7 against a wall of fire – personally I was stuck on Sunset for 40 minutes with a terrified 5-year-old boy in the car – others had to abandon their vehicles and flee on foot. Many did not receive evacuation notices until their houses were already on fire.
“Had this happened at night, this could easily have resulted in MANY more deaths. AND YET – against this inadequate infrastructure – the Palisades is not yet exempt from SB 9 densification? IT IS HEARTBREAKING to feel like victims of moronic one size fits all political policies – that don’t even address affordable housing (merely building luxury condos) – after all we have been through! Many of us feel like giving up, we can’t take another hit from those whose salaries we pay to protect us.
“We understand that while SB 9 includes a restriction that properties in a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone (VHFHSZ) are not eligible, the Palisades, despite being in a VHFHSZ, is not currently exempt. Given the recent fires, might pursuing an exemption for the Palisades be a viable path forward?”
On SB 9, Senator Ben Allen was no vote recorded (NVR)—which is the equivalent of a no vote. The senate passed it with 28 yea, 7 nay and five NVR. Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin voted no, and the Assembly count was 45 yea, 19 nay and 15 NVR. Governor Gavin Newsom signed it into law in September 2021.
Under comments about the bill, one person wrote “Everyone understands the need for AFFORDABLE HOUSING but this one-size-fits-all is not the answer. This law takes away our right to have a Single-Family Home in a Single-Family Neighborhood. It was written and passed by LAZY LEGISLATORS, who want to make their donors happy while they kick their constituents under the bus. The people who wrote this bill and SB10 should be voted out of office along with those who supported them.”
Spitz reached out for clarification on what fire mitigation measures the Los Angeles Fire Department reviews in connection with these projects. “Depending on the information, we could then see if a case could be made for a determination that the required ‘ministerial’ permit provisions of SB 9 don’t apply,” Spitz said.
A change.org petition has been started to protest SB 9 and already has 416 signatures click here.
Our community cannot sustain increased densification, our existing evacuation routes have proven this time and time again. Interesting how the lack of basic services like water in the hydrants and 1000’s of unavailable fire fighters on red flag days leads to complete destruction of a community, yet legislators feel they can add more people to that same area. This VOID of common sense makes you wonder how anyone can establish trust, ever again.
well said Tracey ?