EHL was quoted on fire hazard and on a historic settlement agreement.
The Los Angeles Times reported on the relationship between land use planning and fire safety (“They live in L.A. County’s riskiest areas. Should they rebuild on their burned-out lots?” Jan. 19, 2025). EHL offered comments on how Los Angeles County has become a model of good plannng.
Since the 2018 Woolsey fire blackened tens of thousands of acres north of Malibu, some conservationists say L.A. County has emerged as a leader in planning for a fire-heavy future, trying to rein in the sprawl for which the region is famous.
Dan Silver, head of Endangered Habitats League, said the county has been locating homes that the state mandates them to build away from the mountains, while making it more difficult for residents who “spread out, sprawl and leapfrog into dangerous locations.”
“It’s been really, quite a planning achievement,” said Silver, noting a recent crackdown on subdivisions in fire-prone areas. “L.A. County is really the model now.
“There’s plenty to disparage, for sure — the land use of the past 100 years.” But the county, he said, has “put their money where their mouth is.”
Courthouse News Service covered the major settlement agreement between EHL, other groups, and project developers on Otay Ranch Village 13 in San Diego. (“Jamul Mountains development can move forward after settlement,” March 26, 2015).
The settlement negotiation process was long, but the mandates the parties agreed on were innovative, especially the green house gas emissions fund, said Dan Silver, chief executive officer of the Endangered Habitats League.
"The main thing to me is that we found an outcome which we believe will be sufficient for the Quino checkerspot,” Silver said.
The settlement's mandate for density, he added will hopefully spur the company to build more affordable apartments.
“I think in that way our expectations were exceeded, even for the applicant. We were able to improve the planning,” Silver said.
