Planners Win: No Monster Homes In Tahoe

A scenic ordinance system that rewards natural-looking designs is upheld by the court.

1 minute read

April 2, 2004, 1:00 PM PST

" 'Originally homes were set back in trees and single stories. The trend is to knock them down and rebuild them, trying to maximize the square footage, make them as close to the lake as possible and wide and high as possible.' To counter that, the scenic ordinance set up a point system that rewarded natural-looking designs that blend with the surroundings and penalized those featuring lots of glass, bright colors or unbroken lines... If a house doesn't score enough points, it can't be built. The 70-page opinion by Judge Edward Reed rejected arguments that the restrictions amounted to a property taking..."

Thanks to Chris Steins

FULL STORY: Lake Tahoe Planners Win Limits on 'Monster Houses'

Friday, April 2, 2004 in The Los Angeles Times

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