Chris Parker / April 23, 2018
Los Angeles City Planning has resumed issuing Coastal Exclusions (or CatEx) for some projects within specific tracts in the Pacific Palisades.
As background, the CatEx is a type of approval for Coastal projects that allows some projects within the Coastal zone to be approved quickly and administratively without the lengthy public hearings process associated with a Coastal Development Permit. A CatEx can be issued for additions to an existing single-family dwelling or even the complete demo of an existing SFD and construction of a new SFD.
Back in the late 1970s, the California Coastal Commission identified several tracts within the Pacific Palisades where a CatEx would be possible and many PacPali projects received CatExes back then. But the practice died out in the early 1980s and was forgotten.
Fast forward to the beginning of this year, when City Planning re-introduced the CatEx process in response to the surge of projects that are currently being proposed in the city’s Coastal zone. Several CatExes were issued at the beginning of the year but then the process was put on hold so Coastal Commission staff in Long Beach could tighten the rules.
Earlier this month, the CatEx process was reintroduced. Now applicants who want to remodel or replace an existing single-family dwelling in many parts of Pacific Palisades can get a CatEx as long as the project doesn’t include a swimming pool or accessory building(s). Retaining wall(s) can be included in a CatEx but only if they are necessary for the construction of the SFD.
From submittal to final approval, the CatEx process is expected to take only a few months vs. the current 12-15 months for a Coastal Development Permit. The filing fee is also several thousands of dollars less for a CatEx vs. CDP.
Contact Chris Parker (Chris@PCCLA.com) or 818-591-9309 if you’d like help with a project that may be eligible for a CatEx.
