Inglewood to Hold Special Meeting on Building Ban

The Inglewood City Council will hold a special meeting Friday night to consider extending its 45-day moratorium on the construction of apartments and condominiums.

The council was unable to vote Tuesday on extending the moratorium, which expires Friday, because Councilman Anthony Scardenzan, who proposed the moratorium, was out of town. An emergency moratorium requires a unanimous vote for passage.

The extension may be threatened because Mayor Edward Vincent, who had voted for the ban, said Tuesday that he is reconsidering his support. The moratorium was aimed at stopping the razing of single-family homes for multiunit development.

A city report suggested two options to the council to limit multiunit developments: extend the current moratorium in all R-3, R-4 and P-1 multifamily zones, or impose a moratorium only in areas zoned for multiunit developments that the city identifies as substantially single family.

The current moratorium was passed Aug. 29 despite the objections of a group of South Bay developers. Residents argued at the public hearing that uncontrolled development was causing crime, traffic congestion and overcrowded schools throughout the city.

Councilman Jose Fernandez said Tuesday that he wants the moratorium extended to give officials more time to reassess development. Councilman Daniel Tabor said he will support an extension only if he feels it is needed to complete a study of the city’s development. Scardenzan could not be reached for comment. Councilman-elect Garland Hardeman will become the council’s fifth member Tuesday, after the moratorium expires.

The R-3, R-4 and P-1 zoning designations are the city’s least restrictive residential zones, allowing high-density development. In the R-3 zone, one unit is permitted per 1,250 square feet of lot space with a maximum height of three stories, while an R-4 zone requires 800 feet per unit with a four-story height limit.

The R-3 and P-1 zones are similar, except that land in P-1 zones may be used for parking lots.

Friday’s meeting, which will begin with a public hearing on the issue, will be held at 8 p.m. in the council chambers.