Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass issued an executive order aimed at further expediting commercial rebuilding in the Pacific Palisades after January's catastrophic fires.
The new order prioritizes small business, including measures "designed to streamline the rebuilding process for commercial properties" while still maintaining "the unique character of the Palisades community," according to Bass.
Among those measures: an expedited review process for non-residential projects that comply with the neighborhood's specific plan that dictates where and how development can take place. Now, eligible plans will be subject to review through a set administrative process that's expected to reduce approval times and eliminate discretionary reviews.
"These measures focus on administrative efficiency, economic relief, and community preservation, ensuring that recovery is not only fast, but consistent with the area's existing development standards," the mayor said in a statement.
CVS Pharmacy marked the first major retailer to reopen in Pacific Palisades last month after the January wildfires destroyed nearly 5,500 single-family homes and dozens of apartment buildings, stores and offices. The neighborhood’s upscale open-air shopping center Palisades Village is set to reopen next year, but most businesses, including charred supermarkets, shops and restaurants, remain closed without reopening timelines.
Additional provisions announced Friday include a five-year extension on valid land use entitlements, a self-certification program for interior commercial improvements and a waiver for bond requirements in cases of small-scale repairs that fall outside geohazard zones.
As of Friday, the city of Los Angeles had issued a total of 859 permits as part of its rebuild effort. Another 921 permits were in review. In all, the city has received nearly 2,000 applications. It's not clear how many of those permits are for commercial properties versus residential rebuilds.