Bellflower : Hotel Standards Approved

The City Council Monday gave tentative approval to an ordinance establishing minimum standards for hotel and motel construction that officials hope will prevent the establishments from becoming low-rent apartments.

The ordinance, approved unanimously, requires that conditional use permits must be issued by the city before construction can begin.

The ordinance, which is expected to receive final approval on May 27, requires that new developments must have a minimum lot size of 40,000 square feet.

“The council was concerned there might be a saturation of too many (smaller) hotels and motels. The new ordinance makes sure that future developments are larger and nicer,” Councilman John Ansdell said.

The ordinance also requires that new businesses limit the use of the rooms “to transient occupancy.”

The ordinance also requires the provision of one off-street parking space for each room, a parking space for a manager and one off-street employee parking space for every 10 rooms.

The council has had a moratorium on motel and hotel construction since Nov. 25, allowing the Planning Commission to conduct a study and recommend the development standards.