VIDEO - WOOLSEY FIRE REBUILD PROGRESS REPORT IN CITY COUNCIL
The Malibu City Council and staff are committed to doing everything possible to help residents who lost their homes during the devastating Woolsey Fire to rebuild and get back into their homes. During the December 13 City Council meeting, Environmental Sustainability Director and Building Official Yolanda Bundy, who leads the City's rebuild efforts, gave a presentation about the current status of all of the 454 destroyed homes and discussed the challenges that homeowners face, and potential ways to address bottlenecks in the process. Video of the presentation is available at https://youtu.be/g-PloJqlDL4?t=3206 (presentation starts at 53:26).
Out of 454 homes destroyed a total of 360 rebuild projects for single-family homes have been submitted to the City for process of which 328 rebuild projects for single family homes have been approved by Planning; 214 permits to begin building have been issued; 152 are currently under construction; and 62 rebuilds are complete. For multi-family rebuild projects, 6 units are currently under construction and 12 units are complete. Planning is currently reviewing 32 applications; of the total of 328 (72%) approved by planning. 68 projects have been submitted for plan check and are currently being reviewed. 49 have been approved by Planning but have not been submitted for plan check. 94 property owners have not yet submitted for planning approval; however, the City has received 13 extension requests from homeowners to submit an in-kind or in-kind + 10% replacement of the home. Updated rebuild statistics are posted on the website at https://MalibuCity.org/WoolseyStats.
Bundy identified that many homeowners are facing delays because of building materials being caught up in the global supply chain backups. Sharp increases in the cost of construction materials such as lumber, steel and concrete have impact homeowners' economic choices and planning. Bundy is offering personal assistance to guide homeowners through the process and working with them and building professionals and outside agencies try to resolve challenges and delays, and staff is working one-on-one with residents on their rebuild projects.
Any homeowner who is facing challenges and needs help moving their project forward is urged to call the rebuild team for one-on-one help at 310-456-2489 or email ashah@malibucity.org.