PLACENTIA : Restriction Lifted on Building Big Homes

The City Council refused Tuesday night to extend a controversial 45-day restriction on the construction of large homes in the city, choosing to establish building guidelines to ensure that big houses will blend harmoniously into existing neighborhoods.

The temporary measure was enacted June 2 after residents complained that many of the larger single-family homes being built in the city are not in character with existing residences.

Under the June restriction, builders of homes of more than 5,000 square feet were required to submit their plans to the city’s Redevelopment Design Review Committee.

“These so-called mansions often detract from a neighborhood,” said Jerry Younker, president of the North Fullerton Homeowners Assn., who urged the council to continue the review process.

Added city resident Catherine Lancaster: “I don’t want the City Council to have the impression we don’t want neighborhood changes, that we are a bunch of stick-in-the-muds. . . . When we are looking at something that will affect how a neighborhood looks, we want a forum.”

Ordinance advocates also complained that the large homes block their views and that some were built so close that their new neighbors could peer into their windows.

But opponents of the measure contended that it was too vague because it ordered a review of a project without explicitly stating what builders should strive for or avoid.

“The ordinance has no goals, no objectives or guidelines to follow,” said Fullerton contractor John Hansen. “Why should houses built in the 1990s conform to houses 30 to 40 years their senior?”

Councilman Chris Norby, who voted in favor of the measure in June, switched his vote Tuesday night.

“The emergency ordinance does not serve much purpose. It’s just too vague,” Norby said.

But Councilwoman Molly McClanahan supported keeping the ordinance intact, saying that without it, the city could experience “a massive run of projects.”