Local News in Brief : Limits on Size of Houses Considered

In an effort to halt the trend toward huge houses throughout Pacific Palisades, the board that sets building design guidelines in the area is considering new height and space limitations for single-family homes.

After months of study, the Pacific Palisades Civic League presented a plan to restrict the height of new and remodeled homes to 28 feet and set a maximum house size of 2,000 square feet plus 28% of the lot area, meaning a homeowner with a 5,000-square-foot lot would be limited to a 3,400-square-foot house.

“What we are trying to do is to prevent somebody from building the Taj Mahal next door to your house,” said Lila Gordon, president of the 19-member board. “People no longer want an 1,100-square-foot house. That’s a fact of life today.”

The board plans to vote on the restrictions--which are similar to ones under consideration by the city of Beverly Hills--after a final community forum on the issue in January.