Palisades Recovery Coalition Hosts ‘Community Visioning Charrette’

By MARYAM ZAR | Contributing Writer

A Pacific Palisades Community Visioning Charrette was hosted by Palisades Recovery Coalition in partnership with RAND and AIA volunteers, UCLA Luskin, Red Cross, Resilient Palisades, and American Legion Ronald Reagan – Palisades Post 283. It was organized by PRC President Maryam Zar, who is Pacific Palisades Community Council chair emeritus.

The June 28 community charrette marked the beginning of a series of conversations across Pacific Palisades—bringing neighbors together to conceptualize what rebuilding can look like when rooted in resilience, foresight and collective strength.

We intend to repeat this in all eight Palisadian neighborhoods, and emerge with a blueprint for resilient rebuilding, neighborhood by neighborhood.

This first session invited residents to reimagine the future of their neighborhoods before we begin rebuilding in earnest, and we have the time to think and plan purposefully. More than reconstruction, this is about transformation: How do we live—and thrive—in a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone? What choices today will help ensure our community withstands the next wildfire and emerges stronger?

With a focus on community immunity, fire-hardening and climate-adapted planning, this charrette opened a vital dialogue around design, adaptation and local identity. Participants explored tradeoffs, conceptualized fire-resilient streetscapes and helped lay down the through-lines that will shape the blueprint for long-term recovery.

The session featured remarks from State Senator Ben Allen and closing reflections from Tracy Quinn, CEO of Heal the Bay and member of the Blue Ribbon Commission on Climate Action & Fire Safe Recovery, as well as Meg Mullin of UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation and Craig Bullock, planning director for Councilwoman Traci Park.

Summary

In the wake of the Palisades fire, we intend to bring the community together over common visioning. This first charrette established a clear direction: Pacific Palisades wants to build back better—this recovery is not about returning to what was, but rising to what must be. Stronger. Smarter. More resilient. Over 100 residents representing the flat and hillside neighborhoods of Marquez Knolls (and Las Casas) came together around seven key themes.

Governance

Residents voiced strong support for local control, with a clear desire for a well-staffed, transparent permitting process and consistent building inspections. Community-based communication tools were praised, while many called for a unified message board or online hub. A clear takeaway: unifying the voices of organizations is essential for strong advocacy.

Insurance and Financing

There’s a pressing need for community guidance on insurance standards, fire-resilient upgrades and access to bridge financing like SBA loans. Senator Allen pledged to bring the insurance commissioner and insurers to the table to align rebuilding with insurability.

Community Resilience

Celebrating reopenings, supporting displaced neighbors and creating shared emergency protocols were all top priorities. Water access stood out as a critical concern—residents proposed pool markers, emergency cisterns and even a community-owned Super Scooper plane. The reopening of fire roads and a satellite fire stations were also highlighted.

Fire-Safe Homes

The community wants clear guidance—and action—on home hardening: stucco exteriors, enclosed eaves, ignition-resistant landscaping and off-grid systems.

There was a strong call for resilient rebuilding materials, knowledgeable architects, clear guidelines for code-compliant resilient characteristics, as well as locally rooted landscaping guidelines using native, climate-resilient plants that preserve the lush aesthetic of the Palisades while enhancing safety.

The Built Environment

Participants expressed interest in group construction models, prefab solutions and shared architect pools—while still preserving neighborhood character. Many want CC&Rs protected and reliable city guidance on rebuilding as they work to balance individuality with safety.

Infrastructure for Fire Response

Residents called for improved fire infrastructure: cisterns, greywater tanks, hydrant checks and reopening blocked fire access roads. A hillside-based fire station and automated early warning/firefighting systems using sound, cameras and water deployment were seen as future-critical.

Environmental Safety

Residents want landscape standards enforced, with steel fencing, erosion controls and fire-resistant materials. Proposals like desalination and water recycling received cautious support, pending environmental review.

More information on Palisades Recovery Coalition can be found at palirecovery.org. The next PRC listening session and visioning charrette will take place on Saturday, July 26, from 10 to 12 p.m. at Post 283. The meeting will be focused on the Alphabet Streets.