Local News in Brief : Bid to Reduce Home Size

The Beverly Hills Planning Commission wants to combat a trend toward huge houses by requiring more space between homes and more creative architectural designs.

Under a commission proposal, houses could be no bigger than 1,500 square feet plus 35% of the lot size--meaning the owner of a 50-foot-by-120-foot lot, which is considered small in Beverly Hills, would be allowed a 3,600-square-foot house.

Property owners who want to build beyond the limits would be required to provide more space between their houses and those of their neighbors. They also would have to design roof lines, facades and landscaping so that the houses do not look bulky, with the plans subject to review by the Planning Commission.

Mayor Robert K. Tanenbaum said the City Council will take its time evaluating the recommendations, which were submitted this week.

The Planning Commission has been looking for a way to control the size of houses for nearly three years because of a pattern in which smaller, older homes are demolished so they can be replaced by 7,000-to-10,000-square-foot houses.