City Limits Commercial Condos’ Size : SAN GABRIEL

In a reversal, the City Council has approved an emergency ordinance requiring a minimum size on commercial condominiums.

The measure, which would require each unit in commercial condominium buildings to be at least 2,500 square feet, gained the four-fifths majority needed to take effect immediately. In October, the proposal won support of only three of the five council members.

But, leaving open the possibility of future changes, the council on directed the Planning Commission to prepare data defending the 2,500-square-foot limit.

The commission, which wrote the restrictions in anticipation of a rise in commercial condominium projects, sought to prevent chronic vacancies by ensuring that only large, financially stable businesses can buy units. Developers complained that a limit would make it harder to attract buyers.

Two weeks ago, the council approved the city’s first commercial condominium project after the commission had rejected it. Since then, others have been proposed.

In other business Tuesday, the City Council on Tuesday named a replacement for a Planning Commission member who created a minor stir by refusing to resign after moving out of town.

The council appointed Stuart Riddle, a real estate specialist who has served on the city’s Civil Service Commission, to a two-year term. He replaces Robert Mattison, who was allowed to fill out his term this month, although he had moved to La Verne weeks earlier.

The council also named Ruben Zubia, a Little League activist, to an open seat on the Parks and Recreation Commission.

The appointments came minutes after the council approved minor changes to a proposed ordinance that would automatically vacate the seat of any city commissioner who did not resign within 30 days after moving away.