Hermosa Extends Building Ban

A building moratorium has been extended for 10 months to permit completion of a zoning study in two 6-block stretches of Pacific Coast Highway in Hermosa Beach.

The ban on new commercial and residential developments affects both sides of Pacific Coast Highway from the south city limit to 8th Street and from Pier Avenue to 24th Place. The City Council approved the extension, which took effect immediately, by a 4-1 vote Tuesday. It follows a previous 45-day ban on building.

The areas are zoned as multiuse corridors, a zoning category that permits both commercial and residential developments. The mixing of such uses has created problems as commercial developments have begun to spill into residential neighborhoods, officials said.

The moratorium is needed to give the Planning Department time to study ways to protect the residential neighborhoods while maintaining commercial developments, officials said.

Exceptions to the moratorium include projects already submitted to the Planning Department, minor additions that do not exceed $30,000 in value, and the rebuilding of structures destroyed by natural disasters.