Poll Planned on House Size Limits

The Manhattan Beach City Council has decided to poll residents about how--or if--the city should try to curb so-called monster buildings that block views and sunlight.

The decision came at an overflow council meeting Tuesday, in which the council was praised by some and assailed by others for considering a significant cutback in floor-area ratios for single-family property. The ratio links the allowable square-footage of homes to the buildable area of lots. Currently, the ratio is 90% of the buildable area.

In a straw vote two weeks ago, the council favored reducing the ratio to 65%. But in the face of an outcry by people who thought that was too extreme, the council Tuesday talked about raising it to 76% for lots up to 4,500 square feet. On larger lots, the 76% ratio would apply to the first 4,500 square feet, while the 65% formula would apply to the remainder. Where the 65% control comes into play, property owners also would get additional square footage for garages to encourage people not to park on the streets.

At a public hearing, the council listened as some owners of small lots expressed fears that reducing floor area ratios would make their properties nonconforming under zoning law, preventing them or subsequent owners from rebuilding even to the size of their present houses. Paul Gregory, who lives on a 2,100-square-foot lot and wants to build a larger house, called it a “matter of equity. There is no one number that is fair for everyone.”

Some urged the council to stick with the Planning Commission’s recommendation of 75%, Paul Isley saying that while 90% can result in a “giant house,” 65% is the “opposite extreme.”

Large homes were defended by Leonard Freundlich, who said they are bringing families and children back to Manhattan Beach.

But Dave Wachtfogel urged the council to stick with 65%, calling the recent election--in which big homes were an issue--a mandate for smaller buildings.

The council, which is holding discussions on a comprehensive zoning code revision, will discuss the content of the questionnaire at 7 p.m. May 29 at City Hall.