Otto von Bismarck is most often credited with saying, “if you like laws and sausages, you should never watch either one being made.” Although I think that I do not particularly want to see how sausages are made, I think it is extremely important that we all are aware of how laws are made. And that we have the opportunity to participate in how they are made is one of the benefits of this great democracy. With that said… the Santa Monica City Council will be considering proposed amendments to the ordinance for R1 neighborhood zoning at their October 22 meeting. If you have any interest in remodeling your home in Santa Monica in the near future, you made want to exercise your right to speak up.
These amendments, if passed, will affect homeowners in the R1 (the classification for a single unit residential dwelling) zoned districts within Santa Monica. The amendments seek to address some residents’ concerns that the character of these neighborhoods is changing with the increase in the “size and scale” of homes being built. These amendments are intended to encourage homeowners to renovate their existing home instead of building new.
