Planning commission weighs code changes to ease wildfire-hardening work while protecting historic resources

The Sierra Madre Planning Commission on July 17 reviewed a municipal-code text amendment to Section 17.50.056 and related zoning provisions that would change how discretionary demolition permits are handled for older properties, with the goal of reducing delays for wildfire-hardening work while retaining historic-preservation safeguards.

Senior Planner Wolf told the commission that the amendment responds to council direction after the Eaton Fire and a subsequent urgency ordinance. He said there is "a tension between wildfire preparation and historic preservation, which needed to be acknowledged and addressed," and staff proposed a set of exceptions, procedural clarifications and notice/timing changes to resolve many of those conflicts.

Key changes described by staff include: (1)…