Your Coast needs Your Voice
SB4 and SB9 override Hillside Overlay. Get Involved and learn more.
Please attend City of Torrance Planning Commission Meeting on 03/19 to learn more, support the city and share your voice.
These amendments are reviewed on 03/19 and will benefit from more items such as enforceability, height limits on all structures, not just buildings, and more. As an example, a “spire or tower” is not height constrained. This amendment would benefit from being removed or being more specific to avoid view impact.
What is the Religious Institution Housing Overlay Zone - LUS24-00006?
A new state law (SB4) requires cities to allow affordable housing on religious institution properties—but it risks harming our neighborhoods, whether views, traffic, air, and strains our general infrastructure. City of Torrance is crafting an amendment the Religious Institution Housing Overlay Zone - LUS24-00006, to direct its implementation.
Key Points:
State Mandate (SB4): Allows religious institutions to build affordable housing up to 35 feet tall (and spires, cupolas and other structures of unlimited height) without public input or hearings. The City has identified 25 religious institution sites to do this. Two of those sites are the Lutheran Church and Methodist Church sites on Palos Verdes Blvd.
Local Impact: SB4 overrides Torrance’s 48-year-old Hillside Overlay, which protects scenic views and neighborhood character. If local churches decide to take advantage of SB4 rules, tall low income housing will be built, blocking views and sunlight.
City Response: The Planning Commission is drafting the Religious Institution Housing Overlay Zone - LUS24-00006 amendment to implement SB4, which will go to a vote within weeks. Your input is critical to shape these rules.
Under SB4 and SB9, City of Torrance is to add 5000 new “affordable homes”. For perspective, the City of Torrance Water serves 26,500 “customers” - this is a 25% growth in customers to get water to, requiring the city to import more water. This does not take into account the additional infrastructure required for water runoff.
Why this matters:
Views & Property Values: 35-foot buildings can block ocean views, sunlight and air, lowering home values. Properties such as Riviera Hall Lutheran Church/School and Riviera Methodist, as well as 23 other properties as listed in the Amendment document (see link above) can build and impact each of these items.
Traffic & Parking: New housing may worsen congestion on narrow hillside streets and increase noise.
Fairness: Tax-exempt institutions could profit while homeowners bear the costs.
Coastal Zone Pollution: Today’s infrastructure is not in a position to support this growth in urban density. Google “sea lion” in the South Bay and you’ll see dozens of reports about marine life washing up on the shore due to ocean acidification.
No Public Hearings: SB4 allows for ministerial review of plans, which means they can be made and reviewed without public notice.
What you can do?
1. Attend the Public Hearing and show your support of the city creating amendments to protect our city
When: March 19, 6:30 PM
Where: Torrance City Hall (3031 Torrance Blvd)
Why: This is the only public forum to demand safeguards in the amendments. Please join us!
2. Request stronger rules added
Ask the City Council to add:
Height Limits: Cap all structures at 24 feet (no unlimited towers/spires).
Setbacks: Require 25+ feet for buildings over 24 feet to protect views for hillside properties.
Enforcement: Deed restrictions to ensure housing stays affordable and isn’t repurposed.
Studies: Traffic, parking, and environmental impact reports.
3. Contact Leaders Now
Phone and/or Email:
Amendment Author: Mr. Kevin Joe, City Planning Commission, [KJoe@TorranceCA.Gov] 310.618.5829
Councilmember, District 5 (Riviera): Aurelio Mattuci, [AMattucci@TorranceCA.Gov] (310) 618-2801
Email cc: All City Council: [CouncilMeetingPublicComment@torranceca.gov]
Email cc: Planning Commission: [PlanningCommission@TorranceCA.gov]
Torrance Planning Division Questions? Phone: (310) 618-5990 or email [CDDinfo@TorranceCA.gov]
Reference: Land Use Case #LUS24-00006
Key Dates & Actions
March 19 | Planning Commission Public Hearing @ 6:30 PM
March 18 - 5pm | 5pm Deadline to submit comments on the project which can be available to those at meeting (email/mail)
We can’t stop SB4, but we can push the City to implement it fairly. Stay involved with your city.
You CAN vote for state legislators whom vote NO on the affordable housing bills such as SB4 and SB9. At present local senate representative Ben Allen was not present for multiple votes for SB9, and Assemblymember Muratsuchi (District 66) voted YES on SB4, and NO on SB9. Please consider contacting your state representatives as well and voicing your concern.
Act now to protect our views, safety, and community. Stay involved with your community.
Who
we are
We are a coastal community bound together by our love for the ocean, the land, and the irreplaceable beauty that surrounds us. Beginning in the South Bay, Los Angeles, we stand as guardians of our coast—protecting the views we cherish, the air we breathe, and the serenity that defines our way of life.
Today, statewide policies like SB4 and SB9 threaten to disrupt this delicate balance, pushing for dense urbanization in an environment that cannot sustain unchecked growth. Increased population, traffic, and development will not only alter our coastal landscape but will also endanger the fragile ecosystems that have thrived here for centuries.
We believe in responsible stewardship—honoring both marine life and humankind by ensuring that future generations can experience the same open skies, coastal breezes, and peaceful horizons that we enjoy today.
The people who once inhabited these hills understood the importance of living in harmony with nature. It is our duty to uphold that wisdom, to protect our coastline, and to safeguard our rights to light, air, views, and privacy.
Join us in standing for the coast—because once it's lost, we may never get it back.
Upcoming events
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Community Video Meeting #2
Mon, Mar 17, 2025 7:00-8:00PM
Learn about new proposed local building codes how they affect your coast, including views, traffic, and more.
Attend the public hearing at Torrance City Hall on Mar 19, 2025 to voice your suggestions. -
Torrance Planning Commission Code Amendment Public Hearing
Mar 19, 2025 6:30-8:00PM
Recommend arriving by 6:00PM (to find parking)
Join us at Torrance City Hall to voice your suggestions to the Planning Commission and City Council as they review new code amendments for affordable housing at religious and educational institutions.
Protecting Our Coast Starts With Us
Protecting your coastal views, light and air - protects our coast. Our oceans are becoming more acidic, endangering marine life and the delicate balance of our coastal ecosystem. As humans, our actions — both big and small — have a profound impact on the health of our oceans and coastline. Even a seemingly minor state bill or local building code amendment can have a long lasting effect, both positive - and - negative, it’s up to you to hold a high bar and protect our coast.
Common threats to our coastal community include:
New Construction & Urbanization – While development may seem like progress, pollutants from construction materials, paints, and debris enter our air and water, harming marine ecosystems. At scale, this becomes an unsustainable burden on our coast.
Population Growth & Overdevelopment – When we push beyond what our environment can sustain, we increase emissions, traffic congestion, waste, and water runoff—all of which degrade ocean health.
Coastal Pollution & Plastic Waste – Litter, plastics, and chemicals from everyday human activity make their way into the ocean, choking marine life and disrupting ecosystems. Even microplastics have been found in the fish we eat.
Light & Noise Pollution – Artificial lighting and excessive noise along the coast disturb wildlife, from nesting sea birds to migrating marine species, making it harder for them to thrive.
Every action matters. By being mindful of how we build, drive, dispose of waste, and interact with our environment, we can protect the coastline we call home—for ourselves and for future generations.
Let’s stand together to protect our coast, our ocean, and our way of life
Example effect of over urbanization & development:
Domoic Acidosis, Manhattan Beach.
Caused by pollutants from runoff from rains in March 2025.
It starts with one voice.
Your voice.
It also starts with one build, that become two, and soon enough your coast is no longer the same.
Read more about similar buildouts: saveseaside.com
