LA County Board of Supervisors approves motion to accelerate rebuilding in Altadena
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has unanimously approved a motion to help expedite the rebuilding process in Altadena following the Eaton Fire.
The motion authored by Supervisor Kathryn Barger and co-authored by Supervisor Lindsey Horvath will create the Unified Permitting Authority within the Altadena One-Stop Recovery Permitting Center.
Barger said in a statement that the motion will help establish a single point of accountability that will be able to make final permitting decisions across departmental boundaries.
"By formally delegating limited emergency decision-making authority to a designated Unified Permitting Authority, the County can eliminate bottlenecks and ensure consistent, timely approvals—without compromising health and safety or code compliance," Barger said.
Some of the county departments involved in approving rebuilding plans include Public Works, Regional Planning and Public Health.
"I've been keeping a close eye on the County's One Stop Permitting Shop and to be candid—I'm not satisfied with the pace," Barger said. "No rebuild permits have been issued in Altadena and that's unacceptable. Today's motion will cut through the red tape to get my Altadena constituents back on track to rebuilding faster. We don't have time to waste."
The county opened the One-Stop Center in Altadena in March to provide impacted residents with the necessary resources they need to rebuild their homes. The center has officials from county departments in one space so residents can go through the process hassle-free.
Barger said the Eaton and Palisades fires have caused an estimated total damage and economic loss of between $250 and $275 billion. Combined, the fires led to a loss of more than 16,000 structures, 29 deaths and more than 125,000 jobs impacted.
"We must ensure the rebuilding process is not only fast and efficient but also equitable and accessible for every resident. The Calabasas One-Stop Permitting Center, created in the wake of the Woolsey Fire, stands as a proven model of what's possible when we prioritize people over red tape," Horvath said. "I'm committed to enhancing this approach and bringing the same level of responsive support to our neighbors in Altadena."
