Senate Bill 9 tries to take away single family housing under the oft-repeated mantra among some government officials that more housing is needed. They ignore the fact that California has lost population, resulting in the loss of a U.S. Representative in Congress.
SB 9 allows a single lot to be divided into two primary units (duplex configuration) and also on ADU and/or a Junior ADU. That would mean a maximum of four units on a lot. The Alphabet Streets are already highly congested and there is a lack of parking. Firetrucks have trouble coming down some of the streets because of the narrow width (24 ft.).
When the bill was introduced in the legislature, despite opposition from numerous sources, including the Pacific Palisades Community Council and the Westside Alliance of Councils, which includes Brentwood, it passed in the Senate 28 to 12 and in the Assembly 45 to 34. Governor Gavin Newsom signed it into law September 2021.
People who live in Pacific Palisades do not have adequate evacuation routes. There are not enough roads to safely exit the area, which was obvious during the Palisades Fire. One resident wrote “I live next door to where the duplexes are proposed, and I experienced a harrowing fiery gridlock on January 7.”
“The evacuation infrastructure is clearly wildly inadequate for even current population levels – to densify at the benefit of contractor profits alone is angering the population immensely,” a reader wrote. “We should be looking at DE-DENSIFYING – obtaining lots for green space. The community is understandably upset that we cannot focus on re-building as no one wants to live in an area that is being made LESS SAFE after what we have already been through.”
There are seven properties that are listed with Building and Safety, that have applications in for a duplex. On the Alphabet Streets are 768 and 732 Hartzell (owned by 5-Star Discount Homes LLC), as well as 1116 Galloway, which another developer has purchased and submitted for a duplex via SB9.
Other addresses, asking for duplexes include 1006 Kagawa (in escrow and has not closed), 1301 Amalfi Drive, 437 Mount Holyoke (and 425 Holyoke) and 536 Bienveneda. The permits have not been approved, yet.
Additional Requirements for Urban Lot Splits Only: No previous Urban Lot Split on the property. To view a fact sheet: click here.
- No adjacent parcels split by same property owner (or someone acting in concert)
- Owner applying must reside at a unit on one of the Urban Lot Split’s newly created lots for at least three years from the date of map approval.
- SB 9 requires one covered parking space per unit. However, if located within a half mile of a High-Quality Transit Corridor (as defined in subdivision (b) of Public Resources Code Section 21155); Major Transit Stop (as defined in Public Resources Section 21064.3); or car share vehicle drop off or pick up location, no parking shall be required.
The Pacific Palisades Community Council is aware of the urgency and is drafting a letter today, July 27, to send to Governor Newsom and L.A. Mayor Karen Bass.
Until an after-action report for the Palisades Fire is complete and out of public safety concerns, the City and the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety should halt issuing duplex permits on single family lots.
CTN reached out to Mayor Karen Bass’ office and to Councilmember Traci Park for a comment. The Mayor’s office said on July 29 that “The Mayor cannot make changes to Senate Bill 9 since it’s state law, but the Mayor’s office is actively engaged with the Governor’s office on this matter as it relates to rebuilding in the Palisades specifically.”
This is a comment about the sand at the children’s play area at Annenberg beach house.
Yesterday, i asked the woman at the office window if the sand had been replaced in the children’s play lot and she said NO. It had been raked. I said, “so it contains toxins,” and she said YES.
Lots of very young children playing in that contaminated sand.
I thank you for all the hard work you do on behalf of the Palisades uprooted residents.
Karen