sr-111379-8aCA RLK:JWL:msh
City Council Meeti* 11-13-79 Santa( nica, California
T0: Mayor and City Council
FROM: City Attorney rV011 1 3 P979
SUBJECT: Proposed Commercial Floor Limitation Ordinance
Introduction
This report transmits an ordinance regulating floor
area in',commercial zones. The City Council directed the pre-
paration of this ordinance at the October 23 Council meeting
after discussion of Item 11-A.
Background
On September 11, 1979, the City Council directed the
Planning Staff to review the proposed Floor Area Limitation
Ordinance and recommend modifications, if any, which might be
considered to alleviate the concerr. of .property owners while
still preserving the intent of the ordinance. Following consider-
ation of the Planning Staff's recommendation on October 23, the
Council directed the City Attorney to revise the ordinance to
reflect the following:
1. The inclusion of a separate formula for
properties fronting on Wilshire Boulevard
to permit a floor area ratio of 4.5
times the commercial lot area in lieu of
the ratio of 3 times the lot area allowed
all other CA, CP and C-4 districts with
the condition that floor area devoted to
other than general office uses including
retail sales, restaurants, banks, and
medical offices be computed at twice the
N O V 1 3 1979
actual area.
2. Include a provision that floor area devoted
to residential uses be computed at only 1/2
the actual area.
3. Clarification of the wording to clearly
indicate that only land area in commercial
zoning would be included for purposes of
computing allowable floor area.
Attached is a revised ordinance for introduction
incorporating the changes requested. The wording is somewhat
different than that originally proposed by the Planning Staff,
but in the .opinion of this office it is clearer, more precise
and easier to interpret than that originally proposed.
Recommendation
It is respectfully recommended that the City Council
introduce the revised ordinance with such modifications as the
Council may wish.
Prepared by: Richard L. Knickerbocker