Re “Tension and Mansions Both Are Building”
Protesting perceived mansionization in Culver City has scored a victory, in one official’s view, going into Monday evening’s closely watched joint City Council-Planning Commission.
“I believe the recommendations the Planning Commission has put forward will affect the appearance and design of (future) remodeling in Culver City,” said Vice Mayor Andy Weissman, senior member of the Council.
Although crowds gradually shrank during a series of Planning Commission hearings on mansionization, a hefty turnout is expected for the 7 o’clock meeting when stricter building guidelines are likely to be approved.
Protestors – largely from the Carlson Park neighborhood – who were seeking more compact structures and expansion restrictions evidently have prevailed.
“The result will be a much smaller visual appearance,” Mr. Weissman said, “as a consequence of having larger setbacks for one thing. One recommendation is to establish a floor area ratio, which limits the size a structure can be on a given lot.
“We don’t currently have a formal FAR, or Floor Area Ratio policy. Taking into account our present setbacks and restrictions, if we had an FAR, it would be in the neighborhood of point-7.
“The Planning Commission’s recommendation is that we establish a formal Floor Area Ratio, and that it not be greater than point-6.
“If we did not do anything else,” said Mr. Weissman, “that alone would result in smaller structures on conventional 50-foot by 100-foot lots, which is what most R-1 lots are.”
The vice mayor explained that “point-6” means on a 5,000-square foot lot, the maximum structure allowable would be 3,000 square feet. “If you multiply 5,000 by point-6,” he said, “you will get the amount of square footage.”
(To be continued)
