The Governor has a single family residence. Could the land be used for a duplexes and an ADU through SB 9 or could there be an exception?
CTN reached out to Mayor Karen Bass’ office and to Councilmember Traci Park on July 27 for a comment on SB 9, a state law that would allow duplexes on a lot zoned for single family.
This editor also reached out to Governor Gavin Newsom’s office today July 28. “Could you ask the governor for a comment on SB 9? He signed it into law in September 2021. Basically, it allows duplexes to be built on single family lots. People in the Palisades who are faced with rebuilding, are horrified that duplexes are proposed to replaced homes that burned. CTN reached out to Mayor Karen Bass who said it was a state law and there was nothing she could do, but that she had reached out to the Governor. Councilmember Traci Park sent a letter to the governor, which she shared with CTN’s readership (below).
“Is there anything that the governor can do to help the people until at least after the after-action Fire Report is completed and evacuation issues are discussed? I believe the governor was able to witness first hand evacuation problems during the Palisades Fire and how additional density could be problematic.”
Newsom’s spokesperson Tara Gallegos said “We’re working closely with local officials to evaluate these concerns. We’ll have more to share in the coming days.”
The Mayor’s office said today, July 28 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.”
Park’s spokesperson said on July 28, “Councilmember Park shares several concerns of the residents and is expressing them in a letter directed to Governor Newsom.” (Below is the letter Park sent to Newsom.)
I want to express my deep concerns about the impacts that State density laws are having on the recovery efforts in the Palisades. While your Emergency Orders have paved the way for an accelerated recovery by streamlining and waiving hurdles that have greatly benefitted homeowners, opportunistic developers are now using them in conjunction with state density laws to exploit a devastating disaster for their economic advantage.
Developers are purchasing single family properties and redeveloping them into multi-family developments through SB9. Given that over 5,000 homes were destroyed by the Fire, the redevelopment of even a portion of these sites utilizing SB9 could lead to an unforeseen explosion of density in a High Fire Hazard Severity Zone (HFHSZ) that has limited ingress and egress.
When SB9 was adopted into State law, it was never intended to capitalize on a horrific disaster. It was intended for infill development, but building in the Pacific Palisades is not consistent with the spirit of urban infill development. Pacific Palisades is a highly unique coastal community situated on challenging terrain with limited ingress and egress. Despite efforts to obtain exceptions from SB 9 and other state density laws in the Very High Fire Severity and Coastal Zones, lawmakers have repeatedly overlooked these overt risks. Evaluation of infrastructure and evacuation routes must be embedded in legislation that increases density to ensure the safety of these communities.
Given the widespread destruction of the Pacific Palisades, its topography, and limitations to infrastructure, ingress, and egress, I am requesting that SB 9 and other laws permitting increases in density be suspended until such time an analysis can be conducted to determine the capacity of our evacuation routes and infrastructure can adequately accommodate this increased density. — Traci Park
Well why would you expect anything else? Remember this when you vote in the next election. Newsom and Bass forgot, or never remembered why they were elected.
Now, compared to president Trump, there is no comparison. and the president continuously does what good for the Americans! yeah, I know, you didn’t vote for him and it’s too late, since he’s only got 3 months left. Boy I can’t wait to see what he does before 2028. Lets see if we can find someone to replace him.
Keep them out of our community business. Their lack of concern burned our town, and now they want to tell us how to rebuild. What a bunch of losers we have for politicians and look how the quality of life has diminished in our city and state because of them. Get another job Newsom and Bass!
From what is being shared, SB9 has an exemption for high fire risk areas. This means SB9 is not applicable to the Palisades unless the city of Los Angeles specifically exempts the area, which the city of Los Angeles HAS done. So it is utterly preposterous for Bass to say “it is a state government problem”. This is exactly the kind of double speak our public servants use to subvert the will of people they have sworn to serve.
Hank–there isn’t an exemption–Pacific Palisades Community Council is asking for one.
Sue
Can we please get back to referring to our town as Pacific Palisades not just Palisades. Let’s recognize that the “Palisades Fire” affected Malibu, Topanga – unincorporated LA County and Pacific Palisades. Especially hold the governor and mayor to the respect our community deserves, rather than a shortened name for ease and to blend in.
Thanks, Sue!
Government likes one size fits all and likes to apply band-aids where a total rethink is needed.
Increasing population density will not work if we have not solved the problem of transportation. Everyone agrees that traffic in LA is abominable. Increasing local density will make it worse because effective public transportation is unavailable.