McMansion Backlash

"Call them what you will -- starter castles, McMansions, monster homes -- these houses have become increasingly visible in metropolitan landscapes. Many residents hate them.

New York city councilman Tony Avella from Bayside in Queens, led a rezoning effort last April that combats the trend. He said, "Overdevelopment is the No. 1 issue in my district. It comes up more than education or police protection." The Los Angeles city council recently passed an ordinance that limits home size in the Sunlund-Tujunga area.

New Canaan, Conn., enacted regulations this year that limit the height of new houses. Nearby Greenwich and Westport have similar rules under consideration. Other opposition has surfaced in Boston, the Chicago suburbs and the Bay Area in California."