P.V. Estates OKs Large Home

Over the objections of neighboring residents, the Palos Verdes Estates City Council Tuesday approved the construction of a 12,759-square-foot home on Via Zurita.

The city last fall had rejected plans for a 16,000-square-foot home by owner Tei-Fu Chen, saying it was not compatible with the area. Neighboring residents had said the house--proposed for a bluff near a dangerous curve--was too big for the neighborhood, where house sizes range from 3,000 to 9,000 square feet.

Two neighbors Tuesday also opposed plans for the house. “This house will be overwhelming,” said one neighbor. “We will be looking at a country club. We won’t be looking at a home.”

The council said that because Chen’s lot is three times the size of neighboring lots, the city could not restrict the size of the home to that of its neighbors. Chen’s home will cover 13% of the lot. Under city ordinances, homeowners are entitled to build on up to 30% of a lot’s area.