In a move that underlines California's ongoing struggle with wildfires and housing shortages, Governor Gavin Newsom has issued an executive order that gives Los Angeles' local governments more control over housing developments in high fire-risk areas. According to the statement released by the Governor's office, the order aims to address local officials' concerns about the impact of Senate Bill 9 in fire-affected neighborhoods.
The executive order suspends certain housing laws to allow local governments discretion over the approval of duplexes and lot splits in these sensitive zones until August 6, 2025. The order affects areas including the Palisades, Eaton, and other locales ravaged by recent infernos, which have heightened the urgency for safer, more controlled rebuilding efforts. According to the text of the executive order, the Governor said, "We will continue to assist communities in rebuilding safely in ways that are responsive to local concerns."
In essence, the executive order permits local governments to put a seven-day hold on SB 9 developments, during which they can establish their own standards for rebuilding in the specified fire hazard severity zones. It's designed to ensure that community safety, particularly regarding fire hazards, takes precedence in the planning and rebuilding process. The order offers local authorities latitude to add mitigation requirements or select specific areas where such developments may or may not be appropriate.
Governor Newsom's decision not only underscores the state's commitment to replenishing its housing supply but also reflects its dedication to supporting the specific needs of communities affected by disastrous fires. In line with previous actions, Newsom's administration has been proactive, deploying significant resources to support both emergency response measures and the subsequent reconstruction phase. As detailed in the previous announcement, officials have cleared hazardous waste from thousands of homes, demonstrating the responsive nature of state and federal collaboration in the face of escalating disaster scenarios. Indeed, Governor Newsom stated, "the current pace of debris and hazardous waste removal is months ahead of the cleanup timeline for the Camp, Woolsey, Hill fires in 2019 and Tubbs Fire in 2017/18."
The new protections offered by this executive order add to a series of steps the state has taken to help Los Angeles and neighboring communities recover. This includes fast-tracking the rebuilding of homes and schools, suspending permitting laws, and offering regulatory relief to help fire survivors rebuild and access essential services more expeditiously. By offering more local control in areas particularly vulnerable to fire threats, Governor Newsom aims to foster a recovery that is holistic, taking into account the unique demands and potential perils intrinsic to each community as they emerge from the ashes.
