MANHATTAN BEACH, CA Zoning Board of Adjustment
Sundays tracks every public Zoning Board of Adjustment meeting in MANHATTAN BEACH, CA and summarizes what was decided — variances, site-plan and subdivision applications, and Board of Adjustment hearings. Land-use items are kept off the weekly Sundays email (they're a specialist read), but every one is archived here and verified against the official meeting record. 8 items on file; most recent September 17, 2026.
-
Public comments (non-agenda): Request for fire/life safety review for reduced setback on 12th Street project
A resident requested a specific fire and life safety review before approving a proposed six-story condominium at 1446 12th Street with a reduced side setback from 10 feet to 5 feet, citing concerns about fire spread, radiant heat, and emergency access.
-
Public Hearing: Variance for Reduced Front Yard Setback at 620 25th Street (continued from May 13, 2026)
The Commission held a continued public hearing on a variance request to reduce the required 20-foot front yard setback to 10 feet (garage/basement portion) and 15 feet (remainder) for a new two-story single-family residence with basement and attached three-car garage at 620 25th Street. After staff presentation, applicant presentation, public comment, and deliberation, the Commission approved the variance and associated CEQA exemption by a 4-1 vote.
-
Tentative agenda preview for August 26, 2026 meeting
Staff previewed the tentative August 26, 2026 agenda, including a continued variance item originally heard in May and a study session on benches and signs in the downtown area that had been discussed previously.
-
Public comment on study session: height increase and exceedances, neighborhood impacts at 400 Manhattan Beach Boulevard, parking/loading, lighting, setbacks, and timing
Multiple speakers commented on the proposed height increase and exceedances for the two city-owned sites. Speakers generally distinguished Lot Three from 400 Manhattan Beach Boulevard, raised concerns about residential adjacency, gateway views, lighting and light pollution, loading/unloading and truck access, and asked for clearer triggers and limits if 30 feet is allowed.
-
Commission questions and staff responses on height rationale, exceedances, setbacks, lighting, parking feasibility, and process timing
Commissioners questioned staff about why a 30-foot limit is tied to providing parking, how exceedances would work (elevator shafts, mechanical equipment, lighting, guardrails), differences between the two sites, setbacks shown in the view study, lighting and light pollution, parking capacity and underground feasibility, and the Coastal Commission/LCP amendment process timeline.
-
Study session: potential code amendment to increase minor height limit on two city-owned properties (400 Manhattan Beach Boulevard and 1155 Morningside Drive / Lot Three)
Associate Planner Justin presented a study session on a potential code amendment to increase maximum allowable building height from 26 feet to 30 feet for two city-owned downtown properties, conditioned on providing at-grade or subterranean on-site parking. Staff described Project Pulse, site context, view study comparisons, proposed allowable height exceedances, outreach, and next steps including LCP amendment and Coastal Commission review.
-
Public comment (non-agenda items): parking, construction impacts, traffic circulation, CUP hours enforcement, and street widening consistency
During the opening public comment period, a resident raised concerns about parking impacts from new development and construction, traffic circulation changes affecting residential neighborhoods, enforcement of conditional use permit hours for late-night restaurants, and inconsistent street widening requirements between projects.
-
Updates on Administrative and Code Amendments
The Planning Commission received updates on administrative changes and recent code amendments, including accessory structure setbacks and outdoor dining regulations. These amendments were approved by the City Council and are pending implementation, with timelines varying based on Coastal Commission approval.