Malibu : Review Eased for Fire Victims

Residents of the nearly 250 homes that were destroyed by last month’s fire got a break from the City Council this week on the geological review required to rebuild.

The city will allow groups of property owners within a neighborhood to provide a single common report to determine the geological stability for all of the properties. The change in policy will allow the cost to be spread among several property owners, according to city building official Jim Guerra, who suggested the change to the council Monday.

Much of the burned property is in areas classified as geologically hazardous because of the likelihood of landslides or proximity to active earthquake faults. Owners will be required to conduct a geological review or sign a waiver releasing the city from liability before a building permit can be issued.

Some of the fire disaster victims--whose homes in many cases were built before geological reviews and waivers were required--had voiced concerns about the cost of a review and their ability to get financing and insurance if they agreed to a waiver in lieu of a review.