Local News in Brief : Tentative Zoning Change

As part of its effort to reduce density, the Hermosa Beach City Council tentatively decided this week to downzone about 130 properties from two-family residential to single-family residential.

The council, which unanimously approved the ordinance upon introduction, is expected to give final approval at its next meeting May 24.

The properties that would be affected are located generally along the east side of Monterey Boulevard between 19th Street and Park Avenue, and in an area bounded by 24th and 25th streets and Myrtle and Park avenues.

About 1 1/2 years ago, the council downzoned residential properties in cases where the zoning laws and General Plan classifications did not agree. Under state law, the two descriptions eventually must conform. This is only the second of 10 areas citywide the council is expected to act on. Planning Department officials said they could not estimate how many properties will be affected.

In 1980, voters directed city officials in an advisory measure to downzone properties to the lower density when the zoning does not agree with the General Plan.

The City Council also decided this week to hold a hearing at its May 24 meeting on whether the same question should be put to voters as a mandatory measure. Some residents who have opposed the downzoning of the residential properties complained that voters were confused by the wording of the advisory measure and did not realize what they were voting for.