Altadena residents push back on rebuilding plans after Eaton Fire

The town hall meeting in Altadena on Tuesday was filled with anger and anxiety as residents voiced their concerns about proposals that could drastically change their single-family neighborhoods devastated by the Eaton Fire. With nearly 450 people in attendance, it was revealed that 49% of properties sold in the burn zone post-wildfire have been purchased by developers, shocking the crowd.

The main focus of the debate revolved around California housing laws such as SB 9 and SB 1123, which allow developers to build up to 10 housing units, as high as three stories, on a single residential lot. Residents expressed worries about the potential strain on water supplies, electrical infrastructure, parking, and evacuation routes, as well as the permanent alteration of Altadena’s character.

During the meeting, residents called on Governor Gavin Newsom to intervene and address the concerns raised by the community. State Senator Sasha Renee Perez introduced Senate Bill 1090, also known as the “Keep Altadena Land in Altadena Hands Act,” which proposes a five-year moratorium on state density laws in designated Altadena ZIP codes to protect fire-damaged properties from outside corporate real estate speculators.

Despite the intense discussions, the Altadena Town Council did not vote on the measure during the meeting, with Council Chair Nick Arnzen stating that they would consider public feedback before making a decision. Questions were raised about whether the proposed projects would truly create affordable housing, with concerns about Altadena families being priced out of their own community.

One project discussed during the meeting involved a property on Punahou Street with approved plans for a multi-unit development alongside a small single-family home. The county has already voided several applications submitted under SB 1123, citing that the law only applies in built-out areas.

Governor Newsom had previously paused SB 9 in the Palisades Fire burn zone due to its high fire hazard designation. However, no similar exemption has been granted for Altadena, where a significant portion of the community lies outside the state’s designated high fire zone.

The residents of Altadena remain vigilant in their efforts to protect their community from unwanted development and to preserve the unique character of their neighborhoods in the aftermath of the Eaton Fire.