Quoted Again

From last Friday's edition of the Crescenta Valley Sun:

<<<>>><<<>>><<<>>><<<>>><<<>>><<<>>>

County Officials Agree to Conduct Zoning Survey

By Jennifer Berry

With officials sitting on the floor and concerned residents spilling into the hallway during the Feb. 16 Crescenta Valley Town Council meeting, it was obvious recent zoning issues are important to the unincorporated communities in La Crescenta and Montrose.

"I'm very impressed to see the turnout tonight. People overflowing into the hallway shows the community is interested in zoning issues," said Mitch Glaser, a planner who represented the county at the meeting. He said much of Montrose was zoned for multi-family development in 1936. Additional properties were up-zoned in 1949.

"We really aren't in a surge of multi-family housing rates. Most of that was done in the sixties," he said, stressing that developers of only four multi-family housing projects have approached the county, the latest being in October.

Even so, residents voiced concern with what they feel is a growing issue. Giving a presentation upon the request of CVTC was Stuart Byles, an architect and member of Crescenta Valley Heritage. He talked about a controversial complex recently built on Florencita Avenue near Ocean View Boulevard.

"It is what is going to happen to the rest of Montrose," he said. "What is happening now is that people are beginning to see they're losing what is Montrose."

CVTC member Sharon Raghavachary said she got involved in the issue with the Florencita complex on behalf of the council because of extensive community involvement.

"The Florencita project was the kick in the behind that the community needed," Raghavachary said.

Krista Smiley added she and her neighbors signed a survey citing their feelings against a similar structure proposed on her Montrose street three years ago, before she was a CVTC member.

County officials showed residents maps of areas currently zoned for multi-family housing and said they would conduct a zoning study to determine whether downzoning certain areas would be possible.

"We are here to listen. I can't commit to an outcome. What I can commit to is the process," said Paul Novak, planning deputy for Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael Antonovich's office. "This is a very public process."

He said more residents would have to give input on whether they would want to downzone their property and changes would require a majority of them to agree on the terms.

"We've heard from some of you, not all," Novak said.

An R1 zoning allows for up to two housing units on one lot, an R2 up to three and an R3 allows for multi-family developments such as apartments and condominiums, said Sharon Raghavachary, Crescenta Valley Town Council vice-president.

Smiley said she would provided the county with the survey she conducted years ago, which has more than 100 signatures.

"I think you've succeeded in getting the county to listen," CVTC member Grace Andrus said.