About 20 concerned citizens, many from the Alphabet Streets, attended the Feb. 23 Pacific Palisades Civic League meeting to discuss a proposed anti-mansionization ordinance that may affect certain Palisades neighborhoods, according to PPCL president Richard Blumenberg, AIA, LEED AP.
Residents expressed fear that the proposed ordinance could potentially hurt their property values if it passes in 12-18 months.
Los Angeles City Councilmember Paul Koretz has proposed a motion that would tighten the restrictions of the Baseline Mansionization Ordinance (BMO), which went into effect in 2008.
The motion seeks to reduce the allowable area of a home and seeks to eliminate several exemptions, including attached garages and attached patios/porches/breezeways.
The proposed changes would have the greatest impact on smaller lots of 5,000-6,000 square feet, such as those in the Alphabet Streets, according to Blumenberg.
“I don’t like the sense of losing community control to a sweeping citywide ordinance,” said one resident, adding that the ordinance would “devastate” property values.
Another Palisadian expressed disdain for the proposal, saying, “Everyone should be allowed their piece of the pie and their piece of the earth to do what they want.”
Some people suggested the ordinance could negatively affect elderly residents who have smaller homes.
“They’re ‘sunk’ because no one will want to buy these properties if they can’t build on them,” one resident said.
Some attendees disagreed with the majority of sentiments expressed at the meeting.
One elderly woman said her home is small and her family is perfectly happy there and added that people don’t need such big houses.
PPCL board members said they have already sent a letter to Councilmember Mike Bonin’s office expressing their concerns over the proposed anti-mansionization ordinance.
Board member Donna Vaccarino encouraged residents to write letters to Bonin’s office and to register their opinions with the City Planning office.
To register your opinion with the City and for more information visit cityplanning.lacity.org.
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