Hermosa Looks at New Height Limits

The Hermosa Beach City Council unanimously introduced an ordinance this week that would lower building heights for new office and commercial developments.

The maximum height allowed for office buildings if the ordinance is adopted at the July 28 council meeting will be 35 feet instead of the current 45 feet. The maximum will be reduced from 45 to 30 feet for buildings in C-1 zones, from 45 to 35 feet in C-2 zones and from 54 to 45 feet at the Biltmore Site between 13th and 15th streets on The Strand.

A C-1 zone allows for neighborhood commercial uses--including bakeries, barbershops, gift shops, drugstores--along with residential development. No residential uses are allowed in a C-2 zone, which includes bars, banks, entertainment, shopping centers, restaurants and movie theaters.

Planning Director Michael Schubach said the new height limitations would not effect the 250-room hotel development proposed for the Biltmore Site, which is 39 feet high. The decision as to whether the hotel can be built is pending in the 2nd District Court of Appeal, where the outcome of a referendum on the development is being challenged.