Council won’t halt mansions for now

Paul Clinton

NEWPORT BEACH -- The City Council has plugged a groundswell effort to

curb a citywide trend of building larger homes on smaller lots known as

“mansionization.”

At their Tuesday meeting, council members opted to hold off on

imposing any additional regulations on new construction that would add a

bulky third story.

The issue has gathered steam in recent months, with a group of

residents clamoring for a tightening of the rules.

A divided council debated the issue, with several members balking at

new rules as an intrusion on private property rights.

“Their [property’s] value will go down if we start attacking their

floor-area ratios,” Mayor Tod Ridgeway said.

Those ratios dictate how large of a home residents can build on their

lots.

On Balboa Island, the ratios are smaller than in other areas of the

city.

As a proponent of new rules for homes with a third story, Councilman

Steve Bromberg said he hoped to cut down on “mass.”

On Wednesday, Bromberg said he is still investigating whether he would

like to ban third floors altogether or find ways to limit them. Bromberg

said he wasn’t attacking creative architecture but has been troubled by

the increased numbers of boxy homes.

“My attitude is there has got to be a responsibility that goes along

with building a home here,” Bromberg said. “[The goal is] reducing mass.”

The city’s Environmental Quality Affairs Committee, at a May 20

meeting, recommended that the city monitor the issue.

Elaine Linhoff, a member of that advisory panel, has pushed for

reducing the floor ratios, which is one way to limit construction, in the

city outside of Balboa Island.

In 1976, a group of residents banded together and successfully lobbied

the council for a reduction on the island. Bromberg’s district includes

the island -- the councilman lives on Little Balboa.

A handful of speakers addressed the council Tuesday, saying they

worried that the large three-story homes were crowding them out.

“It is ruining our neighborhoods,” Dolores Otting said. “It takes away

our light.”

The council will continue to monitor the issue through the general

plan update.

* Paul Clinton covers the environment, John Wayne Airport and

politics. He may be reached at (949) 764-4330 or by e-mail ato7

paul.clinton@latimes.comf7 .