Alhambra Council Approves Limits on Construction of Condominiums

Amid little controversy, Alhambra City Council members voted this week to ban condominiums in some areas.

A move last week to restrict condominium construction in Monterey Park caused some residents there to threaten a lawsuit against the city.

But no opposition was heard Monday when the Alhambra council voted 5 to 0 to prohibit new condominium projects in R-2 zones, areas reserved for multifamily residences.

The new zoning regulation, which went into effect immediately after the vote, makes permanent an emergency condominium ban the council approved July 24.

Additional Units

According to a city staff report, the R-2 zones were designed to allow additional rear units to be added to a main residence. But in a written report to the council, Assistant City Manager P. Michael Paules said separate ownership of the units tends to change the character of family residential areas and should not be allowed.

The Planning Commission voted 5 to 1 last week to recommend a permanent ban to the council.

Monday’s vote was in keeping with the council’s goal of controlling growth in the city by limiting new construction and by downzoning to reduce population density. Earlier this year, the council rezoned 23 neighborhoods.

In 1986, the council revised the city’s General Plan, reducing the city’s population cap from 120,000 to 82,300. The population is now 74,595.

In passing the restrictions in R-2 areas, the council wanted to prevent residents from replacing existing single-family homes with two rental units, City Manager Kevin Murphy said.

He said that after the city toughened restrictions on R-3 zones, which allow the highest density in the city, a growing number of residents have considered R-2 zones as sites for development of multifamily units.

Monterey Park Vote

Last week, neighboring Monterey Park voted 3 to 2 to reduce the number of condominiums, apartments and townhouses allowed per acre.

That council approved an ordinance reducing the maximum number of multifamily units in R-2 zones from 14 to 12 units per acre. It also reduced the maximum number of multifamily housing units in R-3 zones from 22 to 20 units per acre.

After the Monterey Park decision, residents threatened to sue the city, saying downzoning was equivalent to taking away property without compensation. Some residents said they had planned to sell their property to developers, and the restriction made it less valuable.