“This is without question, undeniably, the right thing to do,” Councilmember Iya Falcone said.
With a unanimous vote, the council agreed to allow two-year permits for temporary housing on-site, along with several key requirements.
Community Development Director Paul Casey said trailers would need safe, temporary power and sewer system hookups.
He also noted that the city would have flexibility when it comes to the trailer permits, such as a six-month extension option for homeowners who are moving forward with the rebuilding process.
“We’re not going to go kick them out if they are making active progress,” he said.
He said demolition permits have already been issued for 106 of the 150 homes destroyed in the Tea Fire. Homeowners would need to receive a demolition and cleanup permit before applying for a temporary trailer permit.
Llad Phillips already has his demolition permit and plans to seek a permit allowing him to live in a motorhome on his property at 2220 Mt. Cavalry Rd. as he rebuilds.
“Our home was totaled on the night of Nov. 13,” he told the council. “The fire was quite severe.”
In addition to rebuilding the home, he said he also wants to nurture oak trees back to health and begin replanting succulents. Living on-site will make life easier for Llad and his wife, he said, who are currently living south of Carpinteria.
He expects to have his building permit by April and plans to rebuild essentially the same home originally built on the property in the 1950s, along with a few minor upgrades.
Casey said those types of minor tweaks, such as opting for new energy-efficient technologies, won’t be a problem for those who want to rebuild in the same housing footprint.
However, he noted that several homeowners wouldn’t get a chance to rebuild at all due to a preexisting landslide in the Conejo Road area. A total of 10 homes destroyed by the fire were located in that landslide area, Casey said.
Councilmember Helene Schneider acknowledged it appears there is little the city can do, but asked staff to look into the issue to see if there is any way those residents might be able to restore their homes.
City Attorney Steve Wiley noted it’s up to the council to decide if those homeowners can rebuild, but added that the intent of the 25-year-old ordinance that largely outlaws building in the area was to gradually reduce the number of homes in the landslide zone.
In terms of those who can rebuild, city leaders urged staff to make life as easy as possible on residents who are beginning to put their lives back together.
“I would encourage us to be as flexible as we can,” Councilmember Roger Horton said. “I understand we don’t want those [temporary] homes in there forever, but it takes a long time to rebuild.”