Council reconsiders home-height limit

The City Council on Monday backed away from setting a date for a citywide referendum on an ordinance limiting home heights and instead moved toward repealing the law altogether.

The ordinance prohibits residents of Old Town, the area west of Pacific Coast Highway, from topping their homes with a third story. Its passage prompted opponents to gather nearly 3,600 signatures to allow voters the final say.

The election was expected to cost the city from $50,000 to $70,000. The council is now slated to vote on whether to rescind the law at its Feb. 12 meeting.