Emergency Order on Planning Deadlines and Extended Hotel Stays
April 27, 2020 12:31 PM
SANTA MONICA, Calif. – Today, April 27, 2020, Interim City Manager and Director of Emergency Services Lane Dilg issued the 12th supplemental order to the City of Santa Monica’s novel coronavirus (COVID-19) emergency. The order pauses planning deadlines, extends the length of allowable hotel stays, and allows City first responders and disaster service workers to take advantage of discounts and specials offered to those on the front lines of the response to the public health emergency.
- Deadlines for reviewing and acting on planning applications, exercising rights under planning entitlements, and expiration of building permits are tolled commencing as of March 16, 2020. Deadlines will be tolled in accordance with all applicable state law and Executive Orders issued by the Governor. This means planning applications and building permits are paused as of March 16, 2020 and the deadlines will resume once the local emergency is declared over.
- Lodging establishments operating as hotels and motels under Santa Monica’s zoning rules are permitted to allow stays of greater than 30 days. This change is intended to support people who are isolating in hotels under Stay at Home and Safer at Home orders.
- The City’s rule precluding employees from accepting gifts of any sort is waived for City first responders and disaster workers to allow them to take advantage of City-approved public or private discount, specials, and subsidies programs. Approved programs will be maintained by the Emergency Operations Center. Restaurants and other businesses have offered meals and discounts that are now allowed under the 12th supplement.
“As we strive to respond to new and emerging needs in the COVID-19 environment, this supplemental order continues to respond to new needs by allowing our first responders and disaster workers to take advantage of City-approved benefits and ensures that projects approved through our planning process do not lose entitlements or permits due to the COVID-19 emergency,” said Interim City Manager and Director of Emergency Services Lane Dilg. “I want to thank all in our community for keeping each other safe by continuing to heed your Stay at Home and Safer at Home orders, especially over a warm and sunny weekend.”
The order is effective through the period of the local emergency, currently extended through May 15, 2020.
Media Contact
Constance Farrell
Communications & Public Information Manager
Constance.Farrell@santamonica.gov