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Planning & Density

• Fire Hazard Exemption Policy

  Position Paper June 16, 2020

  Land UseWracPlanning & Density

  The Pacific Palisades Community Council opposes housing density bills (SB 902, 1085, 1120, and 1385) scheduled for a suspense hearing on June 18, arguing that increased density in their Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone community would compromise emergency evacuation and firefighting access during wildfires. The council urges the Senate Appropriations Committee to reject these bills unless they include an unconditional exemption for VHFHSZ areas.

  

• PPCC EC Letter Senate Housing Density Bills

  Letter June 16, 2020

  Land UseWracPlanning & Density

  The Pacific Palisades Community Council sent a letter to the California Senate Appropriations Committee on June 15, 2020, opposing four housing density bills (SB 902, 1085, 1120, and 1385) scheduled for hearing on June 18, citing public safety concerns in the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone and requesting an unconditional exemption for all parcels within such zones.

  

• PPCC EC Letter re SB902:Appropriations

  Letter June 8, 2020

  Public SafetyWracPlanning & DensityWildfire Prevention

  The Pacific Palisades Community Council opposes SB 902, arguing that the removal of the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone (VHFHSZ) exemption creates serious public safety risks by potentially increasing density and clogging evacuation routes in wildfire-prone areas. The council urges Senator Portantino to vote against the bill or require an amendment to restore the unconditional VHFHSZ exemption.

  

• Message to Asm. Bloom re AB 1279

  Letter February 12, 2020

  Land UseWracPlanning & Density

  Chris Spitz, on behalf of the Pacific Palisades Community Council, writes to Assemblymember Richard Bloom requesting clarification on whether AB 1279 would apply to Pacific Palisades and Brentwood, and urging amendment of the bill's VHFHSZ exception to provide unconditional exemption for fire-prone areas due to public safety concerns regarding emergency evacuations and wildfire risk.

  

• SB 50 and Similar Legislation Update

  Legislation Update February 12, 2020

  Land UseLegislationPlanning & Density

  This document updates on three California housing bills: SB 50 (which failed but may be reintroduced), AB 1279 (pending in Senate committees with concerns about density mandates in high-resource areas), and SB 330 (which became effective January 1, 2020 and requires local agencies to provide vesting rights for certain development projects). The Pacific Palisades Community Council expresses concerns about wildfire safety impacts and unclear exemptions for coastal and high fire hazard areas.

  

• Email Message from Chief Michael McLaughlin

  Letter February 8, 2020

  Land UseWracPlanning & Density

  Chief Michael McLaughlin of the California Fire Chiefs Association announced that SB 50 failed in the Senate and would not proceed, noting that while the state has housing issues, the bill would have worsened wildland-urban interface problems without addressing core issues.

  

• Message to Fire Chiefs

  Letter January 23, 2020

  Land UseWracPlanning & Density

  Chris Spitz requests that California Fire Chiefs Association and LA County Fire Department officials review and oppose SB 50 legislation, arguing that the bill's language regarding exemptions for Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones (VHFHSZ) parcels is unclear and that allowing increased residential density in these areas poses public safety risks during wildfire evacuations regardless of fire-resistant construction.

  

• Letter - Jan 18, 2020 (Senater Rules SB)

  Letter January 19, 2020

  Land UseWracPlanning & Density

  Pacific Palisades Community Council opposes Senate Bill 50 as written and requests an amendment to exempt all parcels in the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone (VHFHSZ) from the bill's up-zoning mandates, citing public safety concerns regarding evacuation during wildfires in fire-prone communities. The letter argues that the bill's current exemptions are insufficient and ambiguous, and could dangerously increase population density in areas with limited egress routes.

  

• Card-Spitz SB50 Letter2

  Letter January 16, 2020

  Land UseWracPlanning & Density

  The Pacific Palisades Community Council requests urgent assistance from Councilmember Bonin and LAFD Deputy Chief Hogan to oppose Senate Bill 50, which would allow conversion of single-family homes to fourplexes in fire-prone areas, arguing that increased residential density in the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone would endanger evacuation safety during wildfires. The Council urges city officials to contact the Senate Appropriations Committee before the January 31 deadline to advocate for an exemption for all parcels within fire hazard zones.

  

• PPCC-BCC SB50 Letter

  Letter January 14, 2020

  Land UseWracPlanning & Density

  The Pacific Palisades and Brentwood Community Councils oppose SB50, arguing that the bill lacks adequate exemptions for parcels in Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones and poses a safety risk due to potential population increases that could impede emergency evacuations in fire-prone hillside areas. The councils request an exemption for all VHFHSZ parcels and raise additional concerns about the bill's lack of affordable housing mandates and protections for urban canopy.