PPCC Presents Forum on Mansionization, Vacation Rentals

By DEBORAH STAMBLER | Special to the Palisadian-Post

A well-organized discussion of two issues important to Palisades residents took place at the latest Pacific Palisades Community Council meeting on May 14.

Tricia Keane, Director of Land Use and Planning for Councilmember Mike Bonin, gave background and presented information on the Baseline Mansionization Ordinance and the issue of short-term vacation rentals.

Richard Blumenberg, Pacific Palisades Civic League (PPCL) president also provided information on the BMO.

Other agenda items included nominations for the PPCC Executive Committee, the upcoming Pacific Palisades Task Force on Homelessness meeting and Senate Bill 218.

In her presentation, Keane stressed that the current Baseline Mansionization Ordinance-Interim Control Ordinance does not affect the Palisades. Current regulations apply only to specific Los Angeles neighborhoods.

However, future adoption of a citywide ordinance would likely apply to some Palisades neighborhoods.

Keane specifically cited the Alphabet Streets as potentially impacted by the BMO.

Keane invited the public to weigh in on the issue. Those wishing to submit comments can contact Tom Rothmann or Eric Lopez at the Los Angeles Department of City Planning. It was noted that Lopez was formerly the city’s liaison with the Pacific Palisades Design Review Board.

They can be reached at tom.rothmann@lacity.org and eric.lopez@lacity.org.

As president of the PPCL, Blumenberg passed around a letter recently submitted to Bonin’s office concerning the BMO. The letter reinforced the strict attention the PPCL has paid to the specifics of the ordinance and the sensitivity to design guidelines that have played a part in the PPCL’s work over the past 25 years.

As reported previously in the Post, residents have expressed concerns on both sides of the BMO issue. At the PPCC meeting, a number of residents lined up to voice their opinion on the BMO and its consequence in the Palisades.

Those against the BMO voiced decreased property values due to new regulations as one reason for their opposition.

Others in favor of the BMO cited loss of views, light and privacy as reasons they support the building regulations.

At this time, the PPCC has taken no position on the BMO, but is seeking to service the community by providing information and a forum for discussion.

Keane led off the discussion of short-term vacation rentals. She provided a synopsis of the recent Santa Monica City Council decision that limits vacation rentals in single-family homes.

Short-term rentals are defined simply as a rental lasting less than 30 days.

The current debate focuses on homeowners and tenants renting out rooms or homes using sites such as Airbnb.

Although the PPCC has not taken a formal position on this issue, comments and questions skewed widely against the practice of short-term vacation rentals.

Nominations for the PPCC Executive Committee are still open with a vote scheduled for June 11. The Election Committee put forward the following nominations: President: Chris Spitz, Vice President: Maryam Zar, Secretary: Jennifer Malaret, Treasurer: Richard Cohen.

The next PPCC meeting will take place on May 28 at 7 p.m. at the Palisades Branch Library.