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Public commenter who lost home in Eaton Canyon fire urges faster hotel rebuilding; developers say conditional permits could expire this month
Summary
A resident who lost her home in the Eaton Canyon fire described evacuation and loss; the hotel project manager for a proposed Hawthorne Suites by Wyndham said conditional permits issued in December could expire at the end of the month, posing a potential showstopper for construction unless inspections and permit actions are completed.
During the public‑comment period at the June 15 Duarte City Council meeting, Sherry, who identified herself as a key member of the Hawthorne Suites by Wyndham project team, described fleeing a nearby wildfire that destroyed her home in Upper Hastings Ranch in Pasadena and recounted difficulty finding emergency lodging because hotels were full or without power.
"I lost everything. Only pajama and my life," Sherry said, describing the emotional impact and the difficulty of dealing with insurance and recovery paperwork.
Representatives connected to the proposed Hawthorne Suites by Wyndham project updated the council on permit and construction status. The project manager said the development team received conditional permits in December (before the fire) and noted those permits are typically valid for six months; he said permits are at risk of expiring at the end of the current month if the team cannot obtain a first inspection and progress toward construction. The project manager identified permit expiration as a potential showstopper for the project if outstanding items are not cleared.
City staff said they are working with the developer. The project manager said he had been meeting with Community Development staff (including Jason Golding, Stephanie Sandoval and Cody) and that staff offered to meet on the next Monday to review outstanding items and coordinate next steps. Council members expressed sympathy for fire survivors, thanked staff helping to expedite project coordination, and noted the project’s long timeline (council discussion referenced earlier project work dating to 2016).
No formal action was taken by the council on the hotel project at the meeting. Staff described ongoing meetings with the developer and said they would continue permitting work and follow up with the project team.
