Belmont Shore Two-Story Height Limit Garners Support

About 50 people showed up Monday night to discuss zoning issues in Belmont Shore, and at least some consensus seemed to be reached.

After some heated debate of zoning issues last fall, the City Council put in place a temporary zoning ordinance for Belmont Shore. At the same time, the council asked Planning Department staff to do a more thorough outreach to the community and come back with a community-friendly plan.

One of the big steps in that process was last Monday, with a public meeting on the issue, where specific suggestions put forward by the Belmont Shore Residents Association were discussed.

“Based on the comments from the 45 or so residents who attended the meeting, there was a clear majority that supported increased public notice, story poles and a two-story maximum,” said Third District Councilman Gary DeLong, who represents the Shore, and attended the meeting. “There also was a significant majority that opposed the suggested demolition permit requirements, modifications to garage parking spaces and changes in the building height measuring process.

“I appreciate the efforts of the city’s Planning Department staff in coordinating the meeting and facilitating community input, and I will continue to do community outreach to ensure that the views presented at the meeting are reflective of the entire Belmont Shore community.”

Currently, the height limit in the Shore is two stories (or 25 feet), and that now appears likely to remain.

What appears likely to change is if someone wants to tear down a house and build a new one, they will have to put up story poles (wooden beams put up to the height and dimensions of a new building so neighbors and residents can see how tall and large a building will be) and they will have to officially let people living in a larger area know of the plans.

Eventually, staff from the Planning Department will take feedback from this and other meetings (discussing the Peninsula, Belmont Heights and other areas) and return to the City Council with new zoning regulations. The council will then vote to approve or change them.

—Kurt Helin