City Council To Limit 'Mansionization' Of LA Neighborhoods
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — The Los Angeles City Council agreed Tuesday to limit the so-called "mansionization" of more than a dozen Southland neighborhoods.
Officials voted 15-0 on provisional rules for large, boxy "McMansions" that some city officials and community members say hurt the historical character of neighborhoods with moderately sized homes and lots.
Neighborhoods that would be affected by the move include El Sereno's Berkshire Craftsman District, South Hollywood, Valley Village, The Oaks, Larchmont, Sunset Square, Miracle Mile, Old Granada Hills and North Beverly Grove.
The practice of "mansionization" is defined by the L.A. City Planning Department as "as new construction or additions on residentially zoned lots that are out-of-scale with the surrounding neighborhood, but which comply with the current City zoning regulations."
Councilman Paul Koretz, who authored the ordinance, said the move is aimed at those specific communities which are "crying out" for limitations on "McMansions".
What's going to happen now is other neighborhoods will start getting more mansionization, and so we're trying as quickly as possible to pass a citywide mansionization ordinance," Koretz said.
The interim rules could take effect in as little as 60 days, while it could take until 2016 to create new citywide laws, according to Koretz.
(©2014 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)
