County Limits Monster Homes on Coast

Large and expensive new "monster homes" are being built in rural communities along California's coast that are within commuting distance of Silicon Valley. There is also growing concern about the threat to the environment presented by these homes.San Mateo County voted to limit the size of single-family houses on unincoporated land along the coast. Houses will be required tobe "proportional to the lot on which they are built.The largest home allowed -- 6,200square feet -- would have to be on a minimum of 20,000 square feet of land." The design is required to be approved by a design committee of a resident and two architects. The California Coast Commission will review the new rules.