There’s No Zoning For Good Taste

Unless Mayor Mike suddenly moves to crack down on architectural transfat, no one will be able to legislate what many are thinking*:

Manhattan Beach residents are reacting to a new housing study currently underway this week which could impact the way new homes in the community are constructed and existing ones enlarged.

Councilmember Mike Nelson dropped the bombshell at the November meeting of the Manhattan Beach Community Group, held at P.S. 195 on Irwin Street.

For months, Manhattan Beach has been held in the grips of a bitter stalemate between homeowners seeking relief from the housing code violations preventing them from moving into their new homes, and neighbors who insist that they follow the rules and comply with existing zoning regulations.

“Obviously there’s been a problem,” said Nelson, who approached Borough President Marty Markowitz’s office for help in conducting the study, due to be released in January. “Some people want change, and others do not.”

The councilman’s office, however, stressed that the study will not contain any recommendations.

“There’s passion on both sides,” Nelson said. “Hopefully, we can clarify the situation.”

Which means what exactly?

“There are lies, damned lies and statistics,” said Nelson’s deputy chief of staff, Robert Varley. “This will probably be the greatest tool for the facts in the debate. Until the numbers are looked at, it’s tough to come in with an educated opinion.’

Neighbors are skeptical:

Some, however, are not at all happy about the existence of the study and fear it could be a prelude to more relaxed zoning regulations.

“This flies in the face of the Manhattan Beach Community Group,” member and past president Dr. Oliver Klapper said. “The Manhattan Beach Community Group is a group with 75 years of success whose 58 members met and voted unanimously not to change zoning in our neighborhood.”

*For a representative example, don’t miss the article’s photo.

See also: “Bloated On Beaumont St.”