TWICE THE SIZE OF THE AVERAGE BELMONT HOME!
The average home size in Belmont is currently 2,400 square feet (sf). Belmont’s City Council proposes to raise the allowed floor area to 5,000 sf – more than double the size of the average homes today!
Below is a photo of a 4,580 sf home under construction on Crestview Drive in San Carlos. This home happens to be on a 15,369 sf level lot, giving it a floor area ratio of 30%; much smaller than the 53% floor area ratio allowed by current Belmont zoning. Under Belmont’s current floor area allowance, a home on this lot could have been 8,145 sf – IF Belmont didn’t cap floor area at 3,500 sf. maximum.
For example, in the Hallmark neighborhood the current average home is 2,800 sf. If the 3,500 sf cap were removed, 90% of Hallmark lots could qualify for larger than 3,500 sf, and 60% of Hallmark homes could surpass this 4,500 sf home below. But in Hallmark they would be on much smaller lots with smaller setbacks.
Garage: 694 sf Lot: 15,369 sf, 90 ft frontage, 12% slope
Main: 2,448 sf Front setback: 37 ft 1st floor, 45 ft garage
Upper: 1,439 sf Side setbacks: 14-18 ft
TOTAL: 4,581 sf Lot Coverage: 20%
Belmont zoning requires only a 15 foot front setback and 9 foot side setback on large lots; so a house this large on a Belmont size lot and setback will appear even bigger. Building Atherton-sized homes on Belmont-sized lots will NOT make this Atherton. The San Carlos City Council, responding to resident complaints about McMansions like this one, recently issued a monster home moratorium while they consider reducing home size caps.
For those who seek a home larger than standard, Belmont zoning already offers the Floor Area Exception process. This process provides Planning Commission review and consideration of impacts to neighbors such as views, privacy and neighborhood fit. This process accommodates Belmont’s irregular and exceptional lots, while preventing conflicts and protecting overall property values.
Click here to see what other cities are doing to fight McMansions.
Ask Belmont Citizens – Cities Fighting McMansions
Belmont’s Planning Commission and Council will have a public hearing on Tuesday, October 18 at 7 pm on a proposal to significantly raise the allowed home size to 5,000 sf, enabling McMansions next door to you. Please voice your concerns with emails to the Planning Commission and Council via links below:
planningcomm@belmont.gov and citycouncil@belmont.gov
Please also copy-paste the same email message for the public record via the link below:
Click here to provide comments for public record.
Ask Belmont Citizens 
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