Sierra Madre planning panel approves rewrite of discretionary demolition rules, adds "like-for-like" standard for fire hardening

Sierra Madre Planning Commission on Aug. 21 unanimously approved sending Municipal Code Text Amendment 25-02 to City Council with two amendments: striking language that would have triggered discretionary review based on a "distinguished architectural style" and adding a requirement that replacement materials used for wildfire hardening be "similar in appearance" to the materials they replace.

The change updates section 17.60.056 of the Sierra Madre Municipal Code, reorganizing the discretionary demolition permit process so objective exemptions (handled at pre-application) are distinguished from exceptions that require discretionary review. Senior Planner Wolf said the draft references a handbook of materials published by the State Fire Marshal and that staff will prepare a homeowner-focused guidance document to help translate the handbook.

City Attorney (name not specified) told the commission he had streamlined the draft ordinance, standardized internal code cross-references and incorporated the Fire Marshal's guidance into the draft. "This was a pretty dense ordinance and…