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Council advances planning commission recommendations for Artesia/Aviation corridor; folds rooftop dining into FAR cap
Summary
Council received and filed planning commission recommendations to raise the Artesia/Aviation corridor FAR to 1.5 and allow up to 45 feet (three stories), and voted to include rooftop dining square footage in the FAR calculation while asking staff to pursue public visioning and design safeguards.
The Redondo Beach City Council reviewed planning commission recommendations for the Artesia/Aviation corridor at the Feb. 3 meeting and directed staff to move forward while emphasizing public outreach and design standards. The council voted to include rooftop dining square footage within the proposed 1.5 floor-area-ratio (FAR) cap.
Mark Weiner, director of community development, summarized the planning commission's suggestions: raise the FAR from 0.6 to 1.5 for Artesia/Aviation commercial corridors, allow buildings up to 45 feet (three stories) with a five-foot third-story setback on street-facing sides, create rooftop-dining standards and setbacks from residential uses, and consider a public visioning process with photo simulations and design guidelines. The commission recommended stronger design criteria, tiered setbacks (including a possible second-story setback) and that rooftop dining be subject to a conditional use permit so neighbors would have an opportunity for input.
Staff recommended including rooftop dining within the FAR calculation to avoid separate Article 27 analyses and potential supplemental traffic studies that would extend the schedule for the ballot measure that would formally change FAR limits. Weiner noted AB 2011 (a recent state law) might allow taller commercial housing projects in strictly commercial zones; staff told the council that allowing targeted commercial FAR increases could help retain local control over the corridor's future form.
Public commenters and planning commissioners stressed the need for robust outreach and visualization tools so residents can understand cumulative impacts. Theresa Mitchell and Sheila Lam urged more community visioning and careful attention to transitions between the corridor and adjacent single-family neighborhoods; planning commissioner Wayne Crick suggested photo simulations or visualizations to show build-out scenarios.
Councilmember Barrett moved to receive and file the planning commission report, consider its recommendations and direct staff to incorporate rooftop-dining square footage into FAR calculations; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote. Councilmembers emphasized both the need to move the item forward and to ensure adequate notice, design standards and appeal rights through the planning process. Staff said the change to include rooftop dining in the FAR would likely be part of the Article 27 analysis for the general-plan vote.
What happens next: staff will incorporate council direction into draft code language, pursue the recommended visioning/outreach work and prepare Article 27 impact analyses related to the FAR and rooftop dining allowance.
Votes at a glance: Motion to receive and file the planning commission recommendations, incorporate rooftop dining into the FAR cap, and direct staff to proceed with outreach and code drafting — approved by unanimous voice vote.
