SR-052896-8CPCD:SF:PC
f:\plan\admin\ccreport\demoord
COUNCIL MEETING: May 2$, 1996
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: City Staff
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Santa Monica, Califc~~~ 8 ~~n
SUBJECT: Recommendation to Introduce far First Reading an Interim
Ordnance, and Adopt a Resolution of Intention to Amend
the Santa Monica Zoning Ordinance, to Allow for the
Demolition of Red or Yellow Tagged Earthquake Damaged
Structures Without a Replacement Plan
INTRODUCTION
This staff report recommends that the City Council take the
following two actions in order to minimize the number of vacant
buildings that have a potential impact upon public safety: 1)
Introduce for first reading the attached interim Ordinance to allow
for the demolition of earthquake damaged structures that are red or
yellow tagged w.~thout the need far a replacement plan (attachment
A); and 2) Adopt the attached Resolution of Intention directing
the Planning Commission to initiate the Zoning Ordinance Amendment
process to make these standards permanent (attachment B).
BACKGROUND
On February 20, 1995 the City Council directed staff to analyze the
City's demolition procedures, ordinances, and NAB process with
respect to vacant buildings. A concern was raised that vacant
buildings create a threat to public safety and perhaps the
demolition ordinance or NAB process should be modified to better
address this situation.
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AY X96
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The City's present demolition law (Municipal Cade section
9.04.10,16 Demolitions) provides that no demolition of buildings
and structures shall be permitted except when all of the following
conditions have been met:
o A removal permit has been granted by the Rent Control
Board, if required,
o For residential buildings, the final permit to commence
construction an a replacement project has been issued, or
the Director of Planning and the Building Official have
determined that the structure is a public nuisance
(single family dwelling units located in the R-1 District
ar in any commercial or industrial district, and not
subject to rent control, are exempt from this
requirement).
a A property maintenance plan has been approved.
o Subsequent development is in conformance with the General
Plan and all applicable regulations.
In addition, there are provisions that structures older than 50
years require landmarks approval before demolition can commence.
At the March 26, 1996 City Council meeting, staff presented an
analysis of existing conditions with respect to vacant buildings in
the City, which showed that there are a total of 62 vacant
buildings in the City. The owners of 24 of the 62 vacant buildings
have undertaken some activity indicating that their buildings will
be repaired or replaced. These activities including pulling
planning permits, applying far Multifamily Earthquake Recovery
Loans (MERE), or submitting requests far increases in controlled
rents. As to the other 38 buildings, no such activity has
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occurred. (Twenty-two of these are earthquake damaged; 16 are not.)
As outlined in the attached March 26, 1996 staff report (attachment
C), in a majority of cases the vacancy of buildings is attributable
to damage caused by the Northridge Earthquake, and Nuisance
abatement procedures have been undertaken with respect to a
significant number of vacant buildings, which procedures appear to
have been effective.
At that meeting the Council directed the City Attorney's office to
draft an ordinance amending the Zoning Ordinance's demolition
permit procedures so that unoccupied structures which have been red
or yellow tagged as a result of the Northridge earthquake and its
aftershocks may be demolished without the requirement of a
replacement project permit, while retaining the requirement of
Landmark Commission approval for demolition of buildings more than
50 years old.
The proposed interim ordinance and Resolution of Intention would
implement that direction by removing the requirement for a
replacement plan for structures damaged by the Northridge
Earthquake and its aftershocks.
BUDGET/FINANCIAL IMPACT
The recommendation in this report will not have a budget or fiscal
impact to the City. This staff report recommends adoption of an
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interim ordinance and notice of intention to amend the Zoning
Ordinance that address the demolition of vacant buildings that were
damaged by the Northridge Earthquake and its aftershocks and
therefore will not have a budget or fiscal impact to the City.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council take the following actions:
o Introduce for first reading an interim Ordinance to allow
for the demolition of earthquake damaged structures
without the need for a replacement plan
o Adopt the attached Resolution of Intention directing the
Planning Commission to initiate the Zoning Ordinance
Amendment process.
Prepared by: Suzanne Frick, Director
Paul Casey, Assistant to the Director
Planning and Community Development Department
Attachments:
A: Interim Ordinance to allow for the demolition of
earthquake damaged structures without the need for
a replacement plan.
B: Resolution of Intention directing the Planning
Commission to initiate an amendment to the Zoning
Ordinance to allow far the demolition of earthquake
damaged structures without the need for a
replacement plan.
C: March 26, 1996 Staff Report on Demolition
Procedures far Earthquake-Damaged, Vacant Buildings
and Structures.
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ATTACHMENT A