SB 79 State law, authored by Scott Weiner, which allows high density building (such as these in North Hollywood) near transit, could go up in Pacific Palisades unless an ordinance is passed by July 2026.
Initially Senator Ben Allen’s Press Secretary Ben Cheever told CTN on October 22 that concerns about Gladstones being called a transit stop and automatically triggering SB 79 and high-density construction in Pacific Palisades was not likely.
He wrote, “With regards to SB 79 – it’s not a matter of if it’s [Gladstone’s] considered a transit stop (for this situation), it’s a matter of if the project is located in a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone. This was an important guardrail put into the bill to prevent over-densifying in regions prone to fire risk.
Today, Cheever emailed CTN and said there was some language in SB 79 that made it more complicated.
Cheever had conferred with Scott Weiner’s office (bill’s author) and learned that the City has to adopt an ordinance by July 1, 2026, that essentially exempts SB 79 from Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones (VHFHSZs).
This ordinance would only be in effect until Los Angeles completes its next Housing Element cycle of their local plan. The City’s current plan is from 2021 to 2029.
When the cycle ends in 2029, the City can no longer blanket exempt SB 79 from VHFHSZs (such as Pacific Palisades or portions of Brentwood), but the City would need to adopt an alternative plan to SB 79.
That plan would reduce the allowable density by more than 50% in these zones, as long as they move the density somewhere else in the City.
Cheever wrote, “I understand this to mean anywhere in the City’s jurisdiction, not just a specific City district (CD 11, for example).”
Cheever said that SB 79 only applies to “Tier 2 Transportation-Oriented Development (TOD), which includes light rail transit, bus service, or high-frequency commuter rail that were identified in a Regional Transportation Plan on or before January 1, 2026.” This includes planned lines that are not yet built. (He said the January 2026 deadline does not apply to Tier 1 TODs – heavy rail transit or very high frequency commuter rail.)
A major transit stop is defined as “the intersection of two or more major bus routes with a frequency of service interval of 15 minutes or less during the morning and afternoon peak commute periods. (CA Pub. Res. Code § 21064.3)” click here.
The Palisades is served by three buses: the #9 Big Blue Bus runs from the Expo Line in Santa Monica through the Palisades on Sunset to Gladstones; the #602 Metro bus that travels down Sunset, turns on Temescal and then PCH ending on Sunset by Vons; and the #142 Metro Bus that starts in Santa Monica and goes to Malibu. The route intersection at Gladstones could qualify as a major transit stop.
Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin in her October 3 letter to the California Coastal Commission in her support of the redevelopment of Gladstones wrote: “In addition, the project would include public parking for beachgoers and an expansive public transportation station serving both the Los Angeles County Metro Bus and the Santa Monica Big Blue Bus systems, resolving existing transit issues and making it easier to access the beach via public transit.. . .” Irwin voted against SB 79.
Allen’s office said they alerted Councilmember Traci Park about the ordinance which would have to be adopted by the City by July 2026.
Can we vote Scott Wiener out of office and save Pacific Palisades