By LILY TINOCO | Assistant Editor

The Planning and Land Use Management Committee considered a report at a May 27 hearing from West Los Angeles Area Planning Commission and an appeal filed by the Castellammare Mesa Homeowners Association, which challenged the approval of the environment clearance and a Mitigated Negative Declaration for the “large-scale development” of four homes in Castellammare, recommending to grant the appeal and remand the environmental analysis to WLAAPC.

The project would take the space of 12 existing lots along the 17500 blocks of Tramonto and Revello drives at the top of the Tramonto landslide, ranging from 2,619 square feet to 7,695 square feet (each with 2,428 to 6,292 square feet of basement space), as well as a 200-foot extension of Revello Drive. It has been the subject of several community meetings, including Pacific Palisades Community Council.

“Local residents, many of whom lost their homes in the January 7 fire, and [the] Homeowners Association, have long opposed the development on safety grounds,” Castellammare Mesa Homeowners Association said in a statement. “Last year the Los Angeles Westside Planning Commission approved the project, despite the fire code waiver, but as Kimberly Feder, president of the Homeowner’s Association, said, ‘Circumstances have changed and we hope the City Council will correct course.’”

Castellammare Mesa Homeowners Association voiced its concerns, explaining that the project—if approved—would exempt the developer from complying with the Los Angeles Municipal Fire Code and could hinder first responders’ access to a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone.

“As proposed, the only way in and out of the development will be a winding road that narrows to 12 [feet] four [inches], not enough to allow two small cars to pass each other, let alone fire trucks,” the statement continued. “This sets a dangerous precedent for future development in Pacific Palisades by waiving fire safety code for new developments.”

Castellammare Mesa Homeowners Association also expressed concern over the sites of the proposed development project being built within the Tramonto landslide.

During the May 27 meeting, Councilmember Traci Park provided an overview of the Palisades as it stands, as well as comments in support of granting the appeal.  Park explained to the PLUM Committee that in the aftermath of the January 7 Palisades fire, the Castellammare neighborhood lost 48% of its homes, and is home to the Tramonto landslide, “the city’s most active and well-documented.” A landslide occurred in February 2024, which blocked the right lane of Pacific Coast Highway.

“Over the last several months, we saw major flooding and mud and debris flow, as well as active landslide activity,” Park said. “We’re continuing to struggle to move heavy trucks and equipment on very tiny, narrow, windy roads … The fire’s destruction did not spare infrastructure. We have damaged roads, bulkheads, water lines and drainage systems. I believe a Mitigated Negative Declaration is inadequate for this proposed development, and that a site-specific Environmental Impact Report is needed to study the unique or particular conditions to this site on a very active landslide area, being located in the Pacific Palisades burn area. I believe that the appeal should be granted and the matter should be remanded back to the West LA Area Planning Commission.”

A number of Castellammare residents followed Park, echoing her concerns to the PLUM Committee, expressing an urgency for a site-specific EIR to protect the future of the neighborhood.

“I am very moved by the concerns about the NMD being done prior to the fire and the landslide issues … are very serious,” a board member said after listening to public comments.

The PLUM Committee then recommended to grant the appeal and remand the environmental analysis to the WLAAPC.

The applicant, Demos Development, was called during the meeting. Neither the applicant nor their representatives, Greg Demos and Tony Russo (Crest Real Estate), stepped forward to speak.

The matter was then submitted to the Los Angeles City Council for consideration, and the City Clerk scheduled the item to be discussed on June 4. LA City Council voted to adopt the PLUM Committee’s report. As directed by the City Council, the applicant will need to file a new application for environmental review.

Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin, Senator Ben Allen and Supervisor Lindsey Horvath are partnering to host a virtual Wildfire Preparedness meeting on Thursday, June 12, at 5:30 p.m.

The meeting will be focused on Zone 0, newly released fire hazard severity maps and home hardening.

“The presentation will feature California State Fire Marshall Daniel Berlant, as well as representatives from CAL FIRE, both Los Angeles County and City Fire Departments, and the California Department of Insurance,” according to a statement. “This is an opportunity for residents to achieve an understanding of newly formed regulations and fire severity maps, as well as how to keep their homes, businesses and families safe during a wildfire event.”

The seminar can be viewed at a42.asmdc.org/events. If the Zoom reaches capacity, it can be viewed at a42.asmdc.org. Questions can be submitted at a42.asmdc.org/wildfire-preparedness-webinar-submit-question.

—SARAH SHMERLING

Mastro’s Ocean Club Malibu has reopened its Pacific Coast Highway restaurant following a five-month closure after the Palisades fire.

“Experience exceptional service, nightly live entertainment along with the finest prime steak, the freshest seafood, and an award-winning wine and spirits program,” according to a statement from the restaurant. “Mastro’s Ocean Club menu favorites include the majestic seafood tower of chilled crab legs, shrimp and oysters served over a cloud of dry-ice, decadent lobster mashed potatoes, and Mastro’s famed butter cake.”

The restaurant’s current hours are Sunday through Thursday from 4 to 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 4 to 10 p.m. Summer holiday hours include Sunday, June 15, from 12 to 9 p.m. and Friday, July 4, from 2 to 9 p.m.

—SARAH SHMERLING

Pacific Palisades Community Council is seeking applications to become the Area Three 2nd alternate representative on its board.

Area Three, according to the PPCC website, encompasses “Marquez Knolls and both sides of Sunset Boulevard from Palisades Drive to Bienveneda Avenue, Saint Matthew’s School and the Bel-Air Bay Club.”

“For this purpose, persons whose principal residence address was in Area Three prior to the Palisades fire and have either returned to live at that address, or have moved away temporarily and intend to return to live at their principal Area Three address, will be considered Area Three residents,” according to PPCC.

Those interested in becoming the Area Three 2nd alternate representative on the board must apply by submitting a statement.

“All interested persons must submit a statement of any length, which shall include the number of years residing in Pacific Palisades; the number of years as a resident of Area Three; and the number of years at the applicant’s principal residence and that address,” according to PPCC. “The statement must include the applicant’s position on issues they believe are of importance to the community, and may also include a few biographical facts, including any skills that the applicant would bring to PPCC.”

Candidates will then be reviewed and nominated by the PPCC Three Chairs Committee and elected by the board to serve the same term as primary Area Three Representative Julia Nilsen, which ends on September 30, 2026.

Applications are due by email to info@pacpalicc.org by Saturday, July 6, at 5 p.m. For more information, visit pacpalicc.org.

—SARAH SHMERLING

Chamber Music Palisades will present a free community afternoon concert on Saturday, June 14, from 4 to 5 p.m. at Brentwood Presbyterian Church, located at 12000 San Vicente Boulevard.

The program will feature a “unique combination of duets and trios for clarinet, violin, flute and piano,” according to CMP, with “longtime Los Angeles Philharmonic principal clarinetist Michele Zukovsky, multi-genre violin virtuoso Stephanie Yu, Santa Monica Symphony principal flutist and former flutist with Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra Susan Greenberg, along with Pierre Long-Tao Tang, pianist-conductor from Hong Kong and lecturer of music at University of San Diego.”

Works are set to include Ludwig van Beethoven’s “Violin Sonata No. 7,” Johannes Brahms’ “Violin Sonata No. 2” and trio arrangements of Georges Bizet’s “Carmen.”

The concert is sponsored by the city of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs. Donations, which allow CMP to “continue providing these wonderful family-friendly concerts,” will be taken in person or at cmpalisades.org.        

—SARAH SHMERLING