WHAT: The latest on alleviating mansionization....
WHAT:
The latest on alleviating mansionization.
WHAT’S BEHIND IT:
City officials and residents became increasingly concerned about
the cumulative effect of larger homes that are out of character with
the neighborhoods where they are being built and at the expense of
some of Laguna’s charm and character. The high cost of real estate
has been blamed by some for the phenomenon, which has come to be
called mansionization. While creeping mansionization has been
underway for years, it became more visible in Laguna Beach after the
1993 fire, when so many homes were being built at the same time.
Mansionization was a hot topic during the Vision Laguna process. The
City Council directed the Planning Commission to review the process
by which these homes are approved and try to control their
proliferation.
WHAT NOW:
The City Council unanimously approved on Tuesday most of the
short-term amendments to the zoning code recommended by staff and the
Planning Commission to control the proliferation of inappropriate
homes in Laguna.
This was the second reading of proposed amendments and included
changes requested by the council at the Sept. 24 hearing. The changes
were reviewed by the Planning Commission and unanimously recommended.
Most of the changes were for clarification. Changes were also made to
questions 7, 9 and 13 of the Design Review Questionnaire that
applicants will be required to complete.
However, on Tuesday, the council deleted the use of mechanical
lifts as an alternative method of complying with parking requirements
for residences, although lifts are included in the city code.
Lifts were recommended by the commission as a means of reducing
the apparent mass of a building, which is bulked up by the
previously-required three covered parking spaces for homes of 3,600
square feet or more.
Councilwoman Toni Iseman held out for the lifts, but was outvoted.
WHAT’S SAID:
“I hate mechanical parking spaces,” said Councilwoman Cheryl
Kinsman. “I think they are false spaces. People don’t use them and
they park on the street. I am opposed to parking on the street.
WHAT’S NEXT:
The amendments go into effect 30 days from approval. The Planning
Commission will now turn its attention to refining mid- and long-term
recommendations for reducing the effects of mansionization.
Recommendations to be considered include televising Design Review
Board meetings to help familiarize people with the process;
increasing the sideyard setbacks for upper stories; limiting access
to one point on through lots in some neighborhoods; hiring
professional firms to create an illustrated design review training
manual for use by board members, applicants and designers and to
prepare an illustrated design review guidelines brochure; requiring
staff reports for design review applications and applications for
variances from the normal standards.
-- By Barbara Diamond
All the latest on Orange County from Orange County.
Get our free TimesOC newsletter.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Daily Pilot.