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Planning commission recommends council approve omnibus Manhattan Beach zoning code and local coastal program clarifications
Summary
The commission unanimously recommended the City Council approve omnibus text amendments to the Manhattan Beach Municipal Code and Local Coastal Program to clarify definitions and setbacks, add a hedge definition for enforcement, allow limited placement of utility cabinets in front yard setbacks when underground placement is not feasible, and to forward LCP changes to Coastal Commission review.
The Manhattan Beach Planning Commission on July 8 voted 5‑0 to recommend that the City Council approve a package of omnibus zone text amendments to the Manhattan Beach Municipal Code (MBMC) and the Manhattan Beach Local Coastal Program (MBLCP). Staff characterized the package as housekeeping amendments intended to clarify existing regulations, ensure internal consistency, and maintain compliance with state law.
Associate planner Maricela Guillen summarized the changes: updates to definitions (including floor area/buildable and grade/finished), clarified measurement diagrams for height and setbacks, a new definition of “hedge” to support consistent enforcement of hedge height limits, adjustments to supplemental setback calculations, revisions to accessory structure rules, and an allowance to place utility cabinets in the front yard setback in limited situations where SoCal Edison requirements make underground or right‑of‑way placement infeasible.
Staff said the changes are administrative and do not modify the substantive intent of the code sections. The package was circulated with public notice (Beach Reporter, posted at City Hall) and staff said the project qualified for categorical exemptions under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), citing sections 15301 (existing facilities), 15303 (new construction of small structures), and 15305 (minor alterations in land use limitations).
Commissioners asked clarifying questions about a restored rear setback provision (a cleanup to reinstate previously adopted language), whether ADU and state density bonus projects are affected (staff explained state programs allow waivers or concessions and certain ADU minimums are governed by state law), and whether defining hedges or removing special religious assembly yard requirements constituted new policy. Staff and the city attorney said the hedge definition enables consistent enforcement of an existing regulatory requirement and that removing the religious‑assembly special provisions treats religious assemblies the same as other assembly uses, consistent with constitutional requirements.
Commissioners complimented staff for clarity and diagrams and moved to adopt a resolution recommending the City Council approve the amendments, incorporating minor language edits staff displayed (including clarifications about utility cabinet placement). The motion passed 5‑0. Staff said the commission’s recommendation would be forwarded to City Council for consideration (tentatively scheduled for Aug. 4) and, upon council adoption, the local coastal program amendments would be submitted to the California Coastal Commission for certification when required.
The package is intended to simplify code interpretation for residents, developers and planners and to reduce ambiguity in plan review and enforcement; staff noted several diagrams will be placed in handouts and some diagrams will be added directly to the code text where appropriate.
