Monday, April 13, 2020

[Orange County] Laguna council to consider ordinance to streamline permitting process for electric vehicle charging stations

Blog note: This article refers to a Orange County grand jury report.


The Laguna Beach City Council will consider an ordinance Tuesday that would streamline the permitting process for installation of electric vehicle charging stations, bringing the city into compliance with state law.
Assembly Bill 1236 was signed into law in October 2015 by then-Gov. Jerry Brown with the aim to facilitate development of high-speed charging stations as part of the state’s efforts to encourage the use of zero-emissions vehicles.
It required that jurisdictions that issue electric vehicle charging permits adopt an ordinance by September 2017 to expedite the process.
An Orange County grand jury report released this month said Laguna Beach was not in compliance and called on it and seven other area cities to update their municipal codes to create a streamlined process for residences and businesses and dedicate a portion of their websites to
The Laguna Beach ordinance up for consideration Tuesday night would meet those requirements, city staff said.
The city currently accepts applications at the Community Development Department counter. They are reviewed within 10 business days. Inspections are performed within 24 hours of the request, city staff said.
The ordinance would include establishing a checklist for expedited plan review; offering plan review and permit issuance within three business days if an application meets the checklist standards and general plan requirements; posting forms and requirements online, including the checklist; and training inspectors and permitting staff for inspections and review of electric vehicle charging stations.
Also on Tuesday, the City Council will, in light of the coronavirus outbreak, review its upcoming agenda items and those of other city panels scheduled through April for the possibility of postponing items that could draw large crowds.
The council meeting begins at 5 p.m. at City Hall, 505 Forest Ave.

Daily Pilot
By Lilly Nguyen
March 14, 2020

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