Hillside Building Restrictions Extended

A moratorium that prevents developers from building large homes on small lots in a hillside area of Woodland Hills was extended for one year by the Los Angeles City Council on Tuesday.

The extension, proposed by Councilman Marvin Braude and unanimously approved by the council, is intended to give the Planning Department time to develop permanent citywide regulations for building on small lots. The moratorium, first enacted in late 1986, was to expire this month.

The moratorium covers a 1 1/2-square-mile area known as the Girard Tract. The property is east of Topanga Canyon Boulevard, south of Dumetz Road, west of Serrania Avenue and north of Mulholland Drive. The moratorium applies to lots smaller than 5,000 square feet. It prohibits construction of houses that are more than 50% the size of the lot.