In early February, Los Angeles Mayor, Karen Bass, announced a one-stop rebuilding center to assist homeowners with the rebuilding process. While on the surface, this seems like a great idea, the bigger question is why does it take 10 City Departments to help homeowners rebuild? (Bass Announces One-Stop Center). The fact that 10 departments will be at this one-stop center showcases the trouble with homebuilding in California.
What homeowners need is simplicity. The better idea would be to have one person who could walk homeowners through the process. Expedite permitting, allow re-builds with the exact same floor plans to skip most of the process and waive fees. The fact that the governor has announced waiving CEQA requirements is almost laughable since CEQA isn’t required when building one single-family home. What new traffic and other environmental impacts is that homeowner creating that would require CEQA?
Additionally, those in Malibu and the Palisades will be required to obtain permits from the California Coastal Commission. While the governor also touted these permits would also be waived, there are still hurdles that will have to be jumped. If anyone follows the Coastal Commission, you can bet that they will not just allow homes to be rebuilt without any Commission oversight. The Commission has arbitrary rules and regulations about building along the coastline. Primarily, they don’t want any building on the coastline and they will do everything they can to stop building. In their minds, this is a great opportunity to get homes off the beach.
Homeowners are already trying to navigate the process of securing money from insurance companies, loans and just finding temporary housing. Now mix in the current inclement weather and possible landslides, the entire process is overwhelming.
The good news is that you do not have to navigate the process alone. There are experts in the field who know the permitting process, have personal relationships with city planning and development service staff and are experts in dealing with the California Coastal Commission.
Even if homeowners decide not to re-build, getting the land ready to sell through entitlements will greatly increase its value to buyers. G10 Law is available to help all homeowners with this arduous process.
G10 Law, APLC
760-431-4575
info@g10law.com
