Altadena is not for sale! But nonetheless, phones are buzzing with cash offers and unbeknownst to many, homeowners’ rights in the Altadena fire zone are being taken away, in the name of keeping the character of Altadena. On January 23 the Board of Supervisors voted to disallow homeowners to split their lots. This could be the best friend of someone who lost their home and is cash poor but land rich.
If you feel that Altadena homeowners should have the same property rights as other California homeowners, write to Governor Newsom. https://www.gov.ca.gov/contact/
Scroll down to see the text of what the LA Board of Supervisors recommended and our letter to Governor Newsom.
Letter to Governor Newsom explaining why we feel these recommendations could hurt low-income owners and potentially displace people of color from Altadena:
Dear Governor Newsom, We are deeply disturbed by the recommendation of the LA County Board of Supervisors to deprive Altadenans of their right to split their lots, in accordance with SB 9, for the next five years. These recommendations were adopted on January 23 despite public protest and sent to your office for your approval.
Our nonprofit, Making Housing and Community Happen, advocates for affordable housing both locally and statewide (we supported SB 9 as well as for SB 4). We advise congregations that seek to have affordable housing built on their underutilized land and work closely with the African American community in Pasadena around affordable housing issues. We have close ties with Black churches in Northwest Pasadena whose members have lost homes in the Eaton Canyon fires: 54 members of the First AME church of Pasadena lost their homes and over 30 members of the Black churches along N. Fair Oaks Avenue lost homes. We feel their pain and are deeply concerned about the challenges they will face in rebuilding their home.
That’s why we are writing to express our concern about the well-intentioned but short-sighted recommendation of the LA Board of Supervisors to deprive Altadena residents of their right to split their lots. SB 9 allows homeowners in California to split their single-family zoned lot into two parcels and build up to four new residential units on each parcel, d enabling them to create duplexes or additional housing units on their property. SB 9 also requires homeowners to live in one of the units they create for at least three years after getting approval for a lot split. This requirement is intended to prevent investors from taking advantage of the bill.
In their recommendations to the Governor, the Supervisors didn’t explain their rationale for depriving Altadenans of this rights despite pressure from the public to give an explanation. It may be that the Supervisors want Altadena to be built back just the way it was, but we feel that disallowing split lots could drive low-income homeowners to sell out to predatory developers. This would lead to the further displacement of people of color in Altadena, who comprised 40% of the population in 1980 and now comprises only 18% because of rising housing costs and gentrification. I know that it is not the intention of the Board of Supervisors to harm or displace low-income homeowners and people of color but that could be an unintended consequence of their hasty recommendation.
Some Altadena residents have large lots but limited financial means. Being able to split a lot through SB 9 could provide the income they need to build back on a smaller lot and stay in the community. This need for an additional income source is especially urgent for people of color, many of whom were underinsured. Let’s make sure that low-income homeowners have a chance to rebuild. This is not the time to take away their options and their rights.
Rev. Bert Newton
Executive Director of Making Housing and Community Happen
DRP recommends the following State laws be waived or suspended as described below:
1. SB 35/Government Code section 65913.4: Creates a streamlined, by right process for housing in jurisdictions that do not meet their RHNA. Allows small by right subdivisions. Has an affordability requirement and labor requirements. Does not align with County’s By Right Housing Ordinance, which allows housing by right, but does not apply to Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones, airport influence areas, and noise districts.
Request:
· Permanent suspension in VHFHSZ; including any other bills that reference SB35, such as SB9.
· Extend exemption for replacement housing to fire impacted areas that are not within a VHFHSZ.
· Remove requirement for public meetings on SB35 projects per SB 423 (RPC and public does not understand purpose of meetings if they cannot influence decision).
1. SB 9/Government Code sections 65852.21 and 66411.7: Requires the by right approval of lot splits, duplexes, and associated ADUs in single family zones. Depending on the combination, it could result in the creation of up to four housing units. It relies on the environmental constraints in SB 35.
Request:
· Temporary suspension for five years in fire impacted communities.
· Long Term: Permanently suspend in VHFHSZs