Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Postfire Rebuilds topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board approves Title 25 rebuild rules for Phillips area, directs survey work for fire-damaged lots
Summary
The Board of Supervisors voted to expand its post‑fire Title 25 owner‑built rural dwelling program to the Phillips area near Sierra‑at‑Tahoe and to extend the pilot for Grizzly Flats; staff were also directed to produce a survey plan for Phillips.
The El Dorado County Board of Supervisors voted 5‑0 on May 20 to add the Phillips community near Sierra‑at‑Tahoe to the county’s Title 25 limited‑density owner‑built rural‑dwelling rebuild program and to extend the pilot for Grizzly Flats by one year to Dec. 31, 2027.
County planning staff told the board the Caldor Fire pilot produced standardized pre‑review plans — a 750‑square‑foot two‑bedroom design donated by an architect — that simplify rebuilding for property owners in fire‑damaged areas. Planning staff said the Phillips area contains privately owned cabins that burned in the Caldor Fire; three cabins survived, eight have been rebuilt so far, and a number of remaining owners are interested in rebuilding but face obstacles such as damaged access roads and logistics around property corners and surveys.
Planning staff asked for board approval to bring Phillips into the Title 25 rules, to extend the pilot, and to authorize follow‑up work to help applicants use the pre‑approved plans. The board also directed staff to prepare a cost estimate and proposal, working with the county surveyor, to conduct a survey of the Phillips area similar to record‑of‑survey work done earlier for Grizzly Flats. County survey staff told the board that a recent county survey project significantly reduced the cost for property owners who need corner records rather than a full record‑of‑survey.
Supervisors and residents raised ancillary concerns: road and water infrastructure in Phillips, the state of nearby forest roads damaged by heavy equipment used in cleanup, and the lack of individual assistance funding for some property owners. Staff said they would continue outreach to identify how many property owners intend to rebuild and would coordinate with outside funding opportunities, including federal and state grant programs and any emerging state assistance policies for fire survivors.
The board also asked staff to report back to the supervisors with a status update before the pilot’s expiration so members could weigh next steps and whether to further expand Title 25 to other fire-affected places.
The action clears the way for property owners in Phillips who qualify under the Title 25 pilot to apply using the pre‑review plan set, subject to site‑plan review, setback verification and any required inspections. The board set a second reading and final adoption hearing for related ordinance language on June 10, 2025.
