Council directs plain‑language overhaul of courtesy notices for state‑mandated ROD/density‑bonus projects

The Manhattan Beach City Council on Dec. 2 told staff to redesign the city's courtesy notice for Residential Overlay District (ROD) and state density‑bonus projects to make them clearer and more actionable for residents.

Planning Manager Adam Feinestone reviewed ROD/density‑bonus rules and reminded council that qualifying ROD projects are processed ministerially under state law and therefore do not require public hearings. The city currently mails a 'courtesy' notice to property owners and residents within 500 feet when building plans are submitted. Feinestone said the notices were intended to inform neighbors but often did not clearly explain that the city has limited discretion and that the state density‑bonus law constrains the city's ability to deny qualifying projects.

Council members and public commenters pushed for plain English that explains the limited discretion, for earlier and second 'construction' notices, for QR links and developer contact details, and for a larger default radius. Staff recommended building a 'second touch' notice to alert neighbors at the time construction is about to begin and using the city's e‑notification systems and app for push announcements. Communications staff noted the city does not yet have a fully automated geo‑targeted email list but can create a sign‑up topic and send QRcoded invitations, and suggested water‑bill inserts and the city app as additional channels.

After discussion council directed staff to:

- Redraft the courtesy notice in plain language and include an explanatory paragraph that the projects are processed ministerially by state law (a short, prominent statement such as 'This is an informational notice — you will not be able to stop a qualifying project through the city council'); - Add a QR code and URL to the city's ROD project page, and include the developer name and contact information (if available) on mailed notices; - Expand the default mailed radius to 1,000 feet for these notices but explore GIS methods to shape non‑circular notice areas where appropriate; - Add a second 'construction imminent' notice as an additional touchpoint prior to actual mobilization on site; - Explore bulk mailing vendors and water‑bill and app push notification opportunities; and - Return with cost estimates and a proposed implementation plan, including whether postage and mailing costs can legally be billed to applicants.

Planning staff said the city currently mails notices to property owners and residents within 500 feet when building plans are filed for the site; increasing the radius increases postage and staff time exponentially because parcel selection and mail preparation scale with distance. A city attorney representative and staff said the city would continue to evaluate whether applicant fees can be charged for notifications.

Why it matters: ROD projects are a state‑driven way to increase housing capacity. Residents have asked for clearer, earlier outreach so they can understand what is proposed at their nearby sites, who the developer is, and when construction is likely to start. Council members emphasized plain language and multiple notice channels to increase resident awareness and provide consistent sign‑up options for ongoing project updates.

What happens next: Staff will return with updated notice language, a recommended radius and distribution plan, cost estimates, and recommended outreach channels (QR/web/app/water‑bill) for council approval. A separate staff follow‑up will analyze whether the city may bill applicants for the incremental cost of larger mailings.

Representative quote: 'Maybe something like that, but we can talk through that as you can get into discussion on this momentarily,' Planning Manager Adam Feinestone said when proposing revisions and the addition of a QR code to the notice.