Anti-Mansionization Ordinance Not Imminent in Palisades, Says Councilmember

A proposed interim, or temporary, ordinance that would limit “mansionization” will not apply to Pacific Palisades, according to Councilmember Mike Bonin’s office.

“I hope Councilman Bonin is correct,” said Palisadian architect Richard Blumenberg, who is president of the Pacific Palisades Civic League. 

In the Feb. 12 issue of the Palisadian-Post, Blumenberg told the Post he had heard from sources that an interim anti-mansionization ordinance could go into effect within a few weeks and could be applied citywide, effectively decreasing property values in some areas of the Palisades almost immediately.

An interim ordinance can be implemented for a specific period of time while the City Council drafts a more permanent set of rules.

“In short, there is no effort to implement a citywide policy that would slash home values in Pacific Palisades, particularly in a matter of weeks,” said David Graham-Caso, Bonin’s communications director.

The interim ordinance will apply only to neighborhoods that specifically requested tighter controls, according to Graham-Caso. These neighborhoods include Mar Vista, East Venice and Kentwood.

There is an effort, however, to address mansionization citywide, Graham-Caso added, but its application to the Palisades would be limited and is “hardly imminent.”

Councilmember Paul Koretz, who is leading the anti-mansionization effort, has proposed tightening the rules of the Baseline Mansionization Ordinance (BMO), which went into effect in 2008.

Koretz’ proposal will be publicly vetted and it could take 12-18 months before it is approved, Graham-Caso said.

The BMO applies only to single-family zoned properties that are not in hillside areas or in the Coastal Zone. A Post analysis of Department of City Planning and City of Los Angeles government maps shows that Palisades neighborhoods, including Castellamare, the Highlands, Marquez Knolls, Rustic Canyon, Santa Monica Canyon, Pacific View Estates and Will Rogers, as well as portions of Upper Bienveneda, Lower Bienveneda, Upper Alphabets and the Riviera are considered hillside or coastal zone parcels and will not be affected by any proposed changes to the BMO.

According to a 2009 article by Blumenberg that appeared in the Post, areas within the Palisades that do fall under the BMO include “the area south of Marquez, most of the Huntington, part of the California Riviera and Riviera Estates Homeowners Associations, and the area west of Allenford. In addition, it will affect most of Tract 9300, governed by the Pacific Palisades Civic League, including areas north and south of Sunset, the Las Casas area, south of Sunset in the Muskingum/El Medio/Asilomar area, south of Sunset to the Via de las Olas area and the Alphabet Streets.”

These areas could be affected if Koretz’ proposal passes in 12-18 months.

“Even if the ordinance does apply, there are still ways for neighborhoods to tailor the rules to their needs to fit the character of their neighborhood,” Graham-Caso said.