Honorable Supervisor Barger,
As an Altadena native (my family moved here in 1972) I was raised on these foothills, and I’ve had the honor of serving three terms on the Altadena Town Council. I am writing to share my commitment to this community and respectfully offer my recommendations for an equitable path forward, prioritizing the need to protect Altadena’s legacy homeowners while being sensitive to wildfire safety concerns.
On July 30, Governor Newsom issued an Executive Order granting local governments in the very-high fire severity zones of the Eaton and Palisades burn scars—including Altadena’s eastern foothills—temporary authority to pause or tailor SB 9 lot splits and duplex conversions for up to seven days. After that “cool-off” period, jurisdictions may adopt their own fire-safe standards or opt out entirely in the highest-risk pockets, so long as the state of emergency remains in effect. This pause gives planners the breathing room to craft defensible-space requirements, add thoughtful setbacks, and introduce other context-sensitive measures before ministerial SB 9 entitlements move forward.
We applaud the Governor’s initiative to build in that safeguard and write today to propose an equitable path that both strengthens public safety and honors the rights of our long-standing homeowners.
1. Protect Legacy Owners
Many Altadena families who owned their properties before the Eaton Fire (January 7, 2025) face under- or uninsured losses. They deserve the certainty of unrestricted SB 9 ministerial lot splits and duplex approvals—just as originally intended by the Legislature. Curtailing their rebuilding or redevelopment rights at a time of hardship not only risks a Fifth Amendment regulatory-taking claim, but also undermines community stability.
Solution: Establish a simple “Legacy-Owner Exemption” registry, using assessor records to verify pre-fire ownership. This objective tool would allow eligible homeowners to proceed with SB 9 projects under standard ministerial review, while ensuring fire-vulnerable lots receive the special attention they need.
2. Deter Predatory Speculation
Conversely, properties that changed hands after January 7th are prime targets for “buy-and-flip” speculators—developers seeking to capitalize on confusion and urgency. To protect Altadena’s social fabric and keep displacement at bay, post-fire SB 9 applications should trigger enhanced, discretionary review. Conditions might include:
- Mandatory Fire-Resilient Design: Roof and façade materials, defensible-space landscaping, and exterior sprinklers.
- Wildfire Mitigation Investments: New owners fund local fuel-reduction or community hardening projects.
- Selective Pause Zones: In the highest-risk micro-areas, ministerial SB 9 rights could remain temporarily suspended pending adoption of the full suite of fire-safe standards.
These targeted measures will help ensure that only those committed to Altadena’s long-term well-being—and not speculators—benefit from SB 9 opportunities.
3. Leverage the Governor’s Pause
Governor Newsom’s 7-day cooling-off period and opt-out authority create an ideal window for Altadena to tailor SB 9 rules. By applying those powers equitably—exempting legacy owners, while holding post-fire buyers to higher standards—we can move forward together on a balanced, community-centered approach.
A Collaborative Call to Action
To translate these ideas into practice, we respectfully urge the Board to:
- Draft and adopt a targeted SB 9 ordinance for unincorporated Altadena that codifies the legacy-owner exemption and post-fire-buyer restrictions outlined above.
- Direct County staff to prepare a publicly accessible registry of pre-fire property owners, leveraging existing assessor data to minimize administrative burden.
- Conduct focused outreach to fire-impacted residents—through workshops, mailers, and town-hall meetings—so everyone understands the new rules and their options.
By taking these steps, Los Angeles County will demonstrate leadership in wildfire recovery: upholding public safety, respecting constitutional rights, and ensuring that Altadena’s long-time homeowners can rebuild without fear of displacement.
Thank you for your thoughtful consideration and for your tireless work on behalf of our community.
Respectfully,
Dr. Brent Musson