Hermosa Beach : Remodeling Limits OKd

The City Council enacted emergency legislation Tuesday prohibiting issuance of building or remodeling permits for homes that do not conform to the city’s building code. The measure will take effect immediately, and the city is expected to draft a permanent resolution within 45 days.

The vote was 4 to 1, with Mayor John Cioffi casting the dissenting vote, saying that he questioned the need for emergency action. The measure prohibits any remodeling work on nonconforming homes in which the value of the project exceeds 50% of the replacement value of the existing structure. The council had expressed concern that the remodeling of such structures, which are exempt from current building codes, contributes to parking and density problems in the city.