City Council Delays Vote on Restricting House Size

Disagreement among Pasadena City Council members and residents over how far the city should go in restricting the size of hillside houses has caused the council to postpone action on an “anti-mansionization” ordinance.

The council has decided to hold more community meetings before adopting new building standards for hillside neighborhoods. The standards would aim to prohibit bulky-looking houses on sloping lots by limiting heights and allowing construction on only a portion of a lot.

Some residents have complained that the ordinance isn’t strict enough. They have demanded that the law require public hearings for large new houses or expansions, even if the projects meet city codes. Some council members supported the public hearing requirement, while others thought it was unfair to builders.