Gov. Gavin Newsom plans to concern an government order Wednesday permitting Los Angeles-area governments to restrict growth in wildfire-affected neighborhoods by exempting them from provisions of a landmark housing legislation, a spokesperson for his workplace mentioned.
The proposed order would let town and county of Los Angeles and Malibu prohibit development that was allowed beneath Senate Invoice 9, a 2021 legislation that permits property homeowners construct as many as 4 models on land beforehand reserved for single-family houses.
The order would apply to Pacific Palisades and components of Malibu and Altadena — areas that burned in January’s Palisades and Eaton fires which are designated as “very excessive hearth hazard severity zones” by the California Division of Forestry and Fireplace Safety, Newsom spokesperson Tara Gallegos mentioned.
The choice got here after considerations concerning the potential of a big inhabitants improve if there have been widespread use of SB 9 developments in rebuilding areas, making future hearth evacuations much more tough, Gallegos mentioned.
The governor’s plan follows strain this week from elected officers in Los Angeles. On Monday, Metropolis Councilmember Traci Park, who represents Pacific Palisades, despatched a letter to Newsom requesting that he droop SB 9, warning that in any other case there may very well be “an unexpected explosion of density” in a dangerous space.
“When SB 9 was adopted into state legislation, it was by no means supposed to capitalize on a horrific catastrophe,” Park wrote.
On Tuesday, L.A. Mayor Karen Bass launched a press release supporting Park’s request, citing comparable considerations about SB 9 straining evacuation routes and native infrastructure within the Palisades.
“It might basically alter the security of the realm,” Bass mentioned.
