Title
REF240002 - COUNTY OF MONTEREY (REBUILD OF PROPERTIES AFFECTED BY FIRE)
Receive a report on properties affected by Wildfires from 2015 to current.
Project Location: Toro Area Plan, Carmel Valley Master Plan, and Big Sur Coast Land Use Plan
Proposed CEQA action: Not a project pursuant to Section 15378 of the CEQA Guidelines.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Planning Commission receive a report on properties affected by wildfires from 2015 to current (Referral 18.11) and provide direction to staff regarding the County's disaster response practices.
SUMMARY:
On December 13, 2023, Commissioner Diehl requested that staff provide an update on the rebuild of properties affected by wildfires from 2015 to current. Commissioner Diehl clarified the need for additional information specific to the number of rebuilds to determine where rebuilding hurdles may exist (Referral 18.11).
Since 2015, there have been several major wildfires that destroyed or substantially damaged buildings in Monterey County. Those fires include:
* The River, Carmel and Dolan Fires, started in August 2020 which destroyed a total of 122 structures (77 homes and 45 other structures); and
* The Soberanes Fire, which started in July 2016, destroyed a total of 68 structures (57 homes and 11 outbuildings.
These wildfires together resulted in the destruction of 134 homes and 56 other structures. To date, only 53 homes have been or are being rebuilt following the fires.
According to County permit records, the County processed 94 construction permits related to recovery from the River, Carmel and Dolan fires. Of the 77 homes destroyed in these fires, 50 homes have been or are being rebuilt. The remaining 44 permits were for repairs or replacement of structures other than the main dwelling. Unfortunately, there was no program in place to account for construction permits processed for recovery from the Soberanes Fire. Of the 57 homes destroyed in that fire the County has record of...
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