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Malibu staff outlines rebuild progress and new permitting tools as residents push for faster fire recovery
Summary
City staff briefed the Planning Commission on fire‑rebuild statistics, a one‑stop rebuild center with over 2,000 appointments, and a new over‑the‑counter commercial TI process; public commenters urged quicker rebuild speed and better enforcement of nuisance codes.
At the Jan. 20 Planning Commission meeting staff from the Community Development Department provided an update on staffing, programs and fire‑rebuild activity.
The director reported internal promotions in planning and said the department is filling senior staff vacancies. The department announced an environmental subcommittee update scheduled for Feb. 10 covering solid waste, clean water, Clean Bay outreach, organics recycling and debris removal outreach.
Alex Da Silva, a planner, summarized rebuild metrics since the commission last met on Dec. 16, 2025: the city’s rebuild website and the one‑stop rebuild center (opened March 10, 2025) have recorded more than 2,000 appointments overall and 148 appointments since the previous meeting, an average of roughly four to five appointments per week. Staff said most incoming planning applications have been planning verifications and rebuild development permits (RDPs) for single‑family homes and slope‑related improvements; administrative plan reviews are a smaller share of submissions. Da Silva also noted that the city maintains a rebuild web portal (Maliburebuilds.org) with detailed stats and that a dedicated planner remains assigned to Woolsey‑fire‑related projects.
Staff announced a new streamlined over‑the‑counter commercial tenant improvement (TI) process to collapse planning entitlement and building permit steps for eligible interior TI projects (BNM occupancies under 3,000 sq ft with fewer than 50 occupants), accessible via the development portal.
Public speakers used the staff report as an occasion to press the commission on enforcement and rebuild speed. Joe Drummond, a Woolsey fire survivor, said recovery remains slow—24 rebuild permits had been issued in his neighborhood at the time of his comments—and urged that the city use its legal authority and state emergency orders to fast‑track rebuilds while not unduly restricting transfers to new owners who may rely on the same rebuild pathway. Other commenters asked staff to investigate long‑standing code complaints and to be transparent about enforcement outcomes.
Staff responded that all complaints routed to the city are followed up but that the commission cannot discuss open cases in public hearings; staff also said rebuilds remain the department’s top priority and that consultant and contract planners supplement full‑time staff where needed.
Taken together, staff said the department is balancing rebuild priorities with on‑going project reviews and is rolling out process improvements aimed at reducing delays for eligible commercial TIs and helping supply information to rebuild applicants.
