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Staff outlines EPA phase 1 debris removal, Army Corps phase 2 plan and flags upcoming Eaton Fire rebuild ordinance
Summary
Planning staff updated the commission on LA County and federal debris-removal work after the Eaton Fire and said the city will bring an uncodified rebuild ordinance to the commission for feedback at its next meeting.
Planning department staff briefed the commission Feb. 20 on post-fire recovery resources and upcoming local code relief for properties affected by the Eaton Fire.
Senior Planner Wolf showed the commission the LA County recovery website and a public map of Phase 1 fire-damage inspections. He said Phase 1 is an exterior inspection program run by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and that Phase 2 debris removal will be handled by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers where damage was substantial.
"Phase 1 is being conducted by the US EPA," Wolf said while demonstrating the county map and its color coding: black for inspected/no visible damage, green for minimal damage, yellow for some damage, and red for total loss. Wolf said the county’s map also shows properties for which right-of-entry forms have been accepted and properties queued for Phase 2 removal in neighboring areas.
Planning staff reported that Sierra Madre has contacted every affected parcel — about 31 parcels in the city — and that Phase 1 work is in progress. Staff advised owners that right-of-entry forms are required for government‑sponsored debris removal and pointed the public to recovery.lacounty.gov for before/after aerial images, inspection status, and debris-removal guidance.
City staff also said they will present an uncodified ordinance at the commission’s next meeting to streamline rebuilding for Eaton Fire–impacted property owners. The staff memo said the draft ordinance would apply only to properties specifically impacted by the Eaton Fire, would not amend the municipal code, and would automatically expire after five years unless extended. Staff asked commissioners to review the draft and provide input at the next meeting.
The planning department further noted that Phase 2 debris removal is scheduled to begin when the Army Corps mobilizes and that the department will update the commission as the recovery schedule evolves. Staff also announced the next planning commission agenda will include a variance request and the city’s 2024 annual progress report.
