1 David Yakobson
From: Santa Monica Forward <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, February 11, 2025 10:25 AM
To: Lana Negrete; Caroline Torosis; Jesse Zwick; Dan Hall; Ellis Raskin; Natalya Zernitskaya; Barry Snell
Cc: councilmtgitems
Subject: SM Forward Letter -- Support Items 16L, 16M, and 16N
EXTERNAL
Dear Mayor Negrete and City Councilmembers,
Santa Monica Forward greatly appreciates the City Council’s continued attention to thoughtful and meaningful housing and building code policy updates. The housing shortage and related homelessness crisis have long been dire, but have been made much worse by the recent fires. Streamlining new infill housing permitting and production should be a top priority.
We’re writing to thank Councilmember Zwick, Mayor Negrete, and Mayor Pro Tem Torosis for tonight’s item 16L; Councilmembers Zwick and Raskin for 16M; and Councilmembers Zwick and
Zernitskaya for 16N. Forward supports these 16 items and encourages the full council to vote yes on all three.
Thank you,
Item 16-L
February 11, 2025
Item 16-L
February 11, 2025
2 Brad Ewing and Carl Hansen
Co-Chairs, Santa Monica Forward
--
We are working for a diverse, progressive, sustainable and equitable Santa Monica.
SantaMonicaForward.org
Item 16-L
February 11, 2025
Item 16-L
February 11, 2025
1 Edgar Sernas
From: Hank Koning <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, February 7, 2025 4:17 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Council 2/12/25 Agenda Item 16.L.
EXTERNAL
Item 16-L
Mayor, Council Members,
I want to applaud the Mayor and City Council for putting this item forward.
The permitting process for construction needs to be improved - it simply takes too long to get a permit, partly because the building department is short staffed. Reducing their load by allowing self certification of small projects is a good start towards a solution.
Projects that I would like to see eligible for self certification include:
Non-structural commercial interior tenant improvements. Perhaps some minor exterior changes can be included such as relocating an exterior door.
Single family home improvements, which should include additions and perhaps even include a rebuilding of a home destroyed by fire.
ADU’s including 2 story ADU’s
Some items for staff to consider:
An information bulletin needs to be available outlining the process and requirements and what sort of projects can be self certified.
To have this succeed the codes need to be unambiguous and not subject to interpretation. However we know that this is not the case. Different plan checkers interpret codes differently. Building and safety staff need to be available to to quickly answer questions that architects may have and all such interpretations rendered need to be in a database that is publicly available. That way all have this information available without taxing staff.
Similarly for all Applications for Alternative Means and Methods.
SCE clearance should not be required if the clearances required to power lines are clearly shown in the construction documents.
Title 24 Energy and CalGreen compliance should also be eligible for self certification.
And of course having self certification for building permits needs to be accompanied by self certification of any planning approvals required.
I am sure that there will be many other items that staff will need to consider in developing this pilot program and I hope they reach out to local architects and engineers to get their input.
Kind Regards
____________________
Hank Koning, FAIA, LFRAIA, LEED AP Founding Principal
Item 16-L
February 11, 2025
Item 16-L
February 11, 2025
2 KoningEizenberg| 1454 25th Street, Santa Monica, CA 90404 Direct: 424 220 2733 (incl. VM and SMS texts)
www.kearch.com
Item 16-L
February 11, 2025
Item 16-L
February 11, 2025
1 Edgar Sernas
From: Jacob Wasserman <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, February 10, 2025 1:32 PM
To: councilmtgitems; Council Mailbox
Cc: Caroline Torosis; Jesse Zwick; Dan Hall; Natalya Zernitskaya; Lana Negrete; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell
Subject: In Support: Item 16L
EXTERNAL
Santa Monica City Council,
Especially in the wake of the fires, I strongly support a self-certification program for building, to speed up the process and encourage housing production. I ask that it apply to as many zones and building types as is feasible safely.
Thank you,
Jacob Wasserman
11th and Washington
90403
Item 16-L
February 11, 2025
Item 16-L
February 11, 2025