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Committee amends, continues SUD consolidation and 3,000‑sq‑ft cap proposal to address 'monster homes'
Summary
Supervisor Rafael Mandelman presented an ordinance to consolidate Corona Heights and Central Neighborhoods large residence SUDs, expand coverage to include Coal Valley, and rely on a hard cap of 3,000 sq ft per unit (with a limited carve‑out); the committee accepted Planning Commission modifications, heard public support, then amended and continued the item to the call of the chair (3‑0).
The committee on Sept. 16 considered an ordinance to amend the planning code to expand and consolidate Special Use District (SUD) controls intended to limit construction of so‑called “monster homes.”
Sponsor Supervisor Rafael Mandelman said the measure brings Coal Valley into the Central Neighborhoods Large Residence SUD, deletes and merges the Corona Heights SUD into the Central Neighborhoods SUD, and notes that conditional‑use (CU) requirements formerly used to police large residences may be unenforceable following recent changes referenced in the hearing as "SB 4 23." As a result, both SUDs will rely on a hard cap of 3,000 square feet per unit, with a carve‑out allowing expansions of less than 15% over a 10‑year period.
Mandelman described historical context for the rules and said the Planning Commission (at its Aug. 1 hearing) recommended two modifications: exclude accessory garage space from the gross floor area calculation (to prevent a garage‑to‑ADU workaround) and exclude shared/common space in multiunit buildings from that calculation. Aaron Starr of the Planning Department told the committee the accessory‑garage exclusion was intended to prevent a loophole in which owners convert garages to ADUs and then enlarge primary units.
Public commenter Georgia Shudisch told the committee she supports expansion, citing planning staff data that existing units average about 1,600 square feet and warning that delays to the financial feasibility study for upzoning leave a policy gap. After discussion, Chair Mirna Melgar moved to amend the ordinance and continue it to the call of the chair so it can be considered alongside pending upzoning legislation; the committee voted 3–0 to pass the motion and continue the item.
The committee’s action was procedural: the item was amended and continued for further consideration rather than finalized. The transcript records specific numeric thresholds discussed (3,000 sq ft cap per unit; prior CU threshold at 3,000 sq ft; 1.25 FAR per unit threshold; 4,000 sq ft cap referenced as a prior cap; carve‑out under 15% over 10 years; CU provisions noted to sunset 12/31/2024).
