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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMaterial Distributed at Meeting Lisa Mussenden From: Mary Buttice Sent: Monday, February 02, 2015 7:52 AM To: Dominic Lazzaretto;Jason Kruckeberg; Linda Garcia; Lisa Mussenden;Jim Kasama Subject: FW: Opposes building monster houses in Highland Oaks Good morning, Please see email below. Thank you, Mary Bcc: Roger Chandler Mary Buttice Executive Assistant, City Manager's Office City of Arcadia 240 W. Huntington Drive, Arcadia, CA 91007 Phone: 626-821-4302 Fax 626-446-5729 mbuttice@ArcadiaCA.gov Original Message From: Suzanne Palmer [mailto:suziequilts4(a)gmail.com] Sent: Sunday, February 01, 2015 8:38 AM To:garykovacic@gmail.com; jwuo218@gmail.com ; City Council Email; Tom Beck; Sho Tay Cc: suziequilts4@gmail.com; April Verlato;glpalmermd@gmail.corn Subject: Opposes building monster houses in Highland Oaks I bought my home in 1973 because of the wonderful schools and neighborhood. I can't believe the frustration we feel that our City Council members, who we voted for, are so out of touch with the feelings against the monster house construction projects. Just walk the neighborhood,talk with people on the street, everyone is horrified by those projects that have been approved so far. As we went door to door to gather signatures, every house that someone answered the door, willingly signed our petition. We all support remodeling and reasonable enlargement of our 60 year old properties, but tripling the size is wrong. Yes, we desperately need to change the building regulations, restricting size and heights. You represent the residents of Arcadia and your vote should support them. It is wrong if you support only those who financed your election. Suzanne Palmer 1669 Elevado Ave. Arcadia 91006 Sent from my iPad January 25,2015 Arcadia City Council 240 W Huntington Dr. Arcadia,California 91007 Dear City Council Members: Re: 1600 Highland Oaks Drive Property Due to statements made at the January 20,2015 Arcadia City Council meeting,we felt that it was important to submit the following written statement in order to clarify certain facts. We,Kirsten and John Love,declare as follows: We have personal knowledge of the following facts set forth and if called as witnesses,could and would competently testify thereto: 1. In October 2013,John approached realtor Ash Rizk at an open house in our neighborhood and asked him how much money he thought he could sell our house for if he were to sell it. Subsequently,John told Ash that he could show the house privately,but not put the house publicly on the market or put a sign on the property because Kirsten had not given notice at work. After some private showings,Ash communicated three offers to us,one of which was from a private buyer,not a developer. We decided to take the offer presented by Bowden Development because it was higher than the other offers and included a favorable rent-back provision,which allowed us to stay in the house longer and permitted our son to continue school until April 2014. 2. Ash did not tell us that nobody would buy our house except for a developer,nor did we communicate this to anyone. In fact,he presented us an offer from a non-developer,private person. 3. We never felt pressured or misled by Ash during the sale of our home. We understood that Bowden Development planned to demolish the home. We declare under penalty of pe ' u der the laws of the State of Arizona that the foregoing is true and correct. Executed on rh. day of January 2015,at Gilbert,Arizona. 0111 irsten C.Love M.Love RECEIVED • +'rTY OF.AItCA 1)!A Joseph&Toni Baiunco 1148 Oakwood DR. Arcadia Ca 91006 CITY COUNCIL January 27, 2015 Mayor Wuo, Mayor Pro Tern Gary Kovacic,Council Members Tom Beck, Rodger Chandler, &Sho Tay Gentlemen as concerned citizens we sat through the Council meeting for the approval of the new home at 29 East Orange Grove. We were appalled at ARB Contention that the city MUST uphold any and all their decisions.They are an advisory committee and not a policy making committee.The committee that the City should uphold is that of City Planning Commission,who were in favor of this project and that it met City code requirements. The ARB presentation was so biased to the point that they showed a picture of a home that is not representative of the neighborhood. If they had shown the actual homes, they would have shown the house to the West is a two story home, to the East is a two story home and the next is a massive two story home.The house diagonally across the street is a very large single story home that covers the whole corner.The house beyond that is a large two story home. My point is that anyone with an open mind would come to the conclusion that the new home would blend in with the current properties and be a benefit to the City. The ARB is bent on usurping the Planning Commission, with a maximum of a 4600 SQ FT home and a maximum of 4 bedrooms. Because of this point of view they look for anything no matter how menial,to reject a project. The ARB has convinced a portion of the home owners that anything that is in excess of their view is going the decrease their property values and that these new homes will become empty derelicts,when in fact the reverse is true.The contractors would not be building homes of this size if there was not a market.Apparently this is the current market. Who are they to say a person cannot live here if they wish a home bigger that 4600 SQ FT, if it meets the City Codes and requirements and it enhances the neighborhood. We live on the corner of Sycamore and Oakwood DR.The house to the south of us is a large two story home that replaced a small singe story home.The architecture of the home blends perfectly. I have been told by the current ARB that if they were the ARB when this home came up for review they would have denied it. We have lived in the city for 40 years and were attracted because of the City Management,the schools,and the statement that Arcadia was a city of homes. Not a single story or two story, but a city of homes. We are appealing to the City Council to insure that it will review each new project with an eye that it improves the property while meeting all City Codes as well as increasing its value, be approved. It is important that the Council uses a Progressive view while maintaining the viability of the City, not curtail change because the ARB says so. Sincerely V January 30, 2015 Robert & Elsa Tong 1832 N. Santa Anita Ave Arcadia, CA 91006 Dear Mayor John Wuo, We live in the Highlands part of Arcadia and we are very concerned with these massive houses being proposed and built in our neighborhood. We decided to live in the Highlands because we would be shielded to a certain degree by the ARB from these extreme houses. A lot has been made regarding the vagueness of the resolution stating "Harmonious and Compatible". However, I submit to you that it is not vague as we are led to believe; I think it's quite clear in the resolution, and appears to be based on GENERALLY ACCEPTED INDUSTRY STANDARDS AND BEST BUSINESS PRACTICES IN URBAN PLANNING AND REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT. It's just that a lot of money is at stake, and developers are trying to confuse the issue with excuses. Based on GENERALLY ACCEPTED INDUSTRY STANDARDS AND BEST BUSINESS PRACTICES IN URBAN PLANNING AND REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT regarding square footage, if a number has to be given, you would be hard pressed to find a housing development that has homes that vary in size greater than 50% from the smallest to largest home, the smallest home being the baseline. 50% is the extreme end, while 20% variance would be the normal maximum variance. Doing this keeps the homes harmonious and compatible and profitable. Small, medium, and large builders all know that in a planned development, you do not mix a small home next to a large home. You would build them in separate sections/clusters/blocks/neighborhoods/communities. When you build a single home in an existing neighborhood that's much bigger than surrounding homes, it maximizes profit BUT at the expense of the neighboring homes. If you build a harmonious and compatible home, although not as profitable, in the overall scheme, the neighborhood as a whole will have greater value. Although times change, and Highlands ARB volunteers change, it is still the ARB's responsibility to grant or deny exceptions to reflect trends AND the will of the homeowners of the Highlands. So it is possible a 1000 sqft home (very small home) or 6000 sqft home (very large home) can be approved one year, but not the next. It's still the responsibility of the current ARB to look at everything on a case-by-case basis in the Highlands. Do not let the developers confuse you of what "harmonious and compatible" means. They already know, you already know, and everyone knows. It is generally accepted INDUSTRY STANDARDS AND BEST BUSINESS PRACTICES IN URBAN PLANNING AND REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT. Please do what's right, and uphold the decision of the current Highlands ARB. The current ARB is NOT against new development. As a matter of fact, a teardown was just approved on January 21 for the property right next to me (on 1838 N. Santa Anita Ave). Although we would have preferred a smaller house, the house should be small enough to fit our block, yet profitable enough for the investor. Here's hoping! The Highlands neighborhood was planned and designed for more modest and humble homes, while the Rancho Santa Anita neighborhood was designed for the larger homes. You cannot build a Rancho Santa Anita house in the Highlands and expect it be harmonious and compatible, and vice versa. Perhaps this resolution needs to be changed to with greater definitive restrictions, but until they are, we should honor the spirit of it. Attached are random examples of some developments in Arcadia, small and large. Note that there are no major square footage variances. Actually, I do not think you will not find anywhere in Arcadia (Southern California for that matter), that a planned development of five or more homes, would have a major size disparity. I don't even think the planning commission would be agreeable to it. Sincerely 743 Robert To Examples in Arcadia of typical planned developments(large and small).As you can see, they are designed to be "harmonious and compatible"because that is the generally accepted INDUSTRY STANDARDS AND BEST BUSINESS PRACTICES IN URBAN PLANNING AND REAL ESTATE&DEVELOPMENT. ad Statics U•L oS Angeles Co•Arcadia•North NR19a ' le - ..A•R)!l t. 4. , O O _( 4 --5.'r-'1;:-.. Y. �. yr = t it ' �4 : . _ r-.. j_ w4 ,. •. 0 - ' . d ti- s *'�t .,w)-cerr ) � - _ , ", � ry tom,- • - 4 ,F? Y . ",., ,+ -... • ,;% t, 1, . • . - 1 aa. c�En ‘4', � , re � 'v _ i W C .�► a; # .. .' 40 , i e mow- � , - g /i a . 1.. , _ t ,tv �, r f— i'A �.— i , � A`(1 yf �t' 'F- Vle` ^ t,.` t�' f'' . '` .� 'tiai, _ ANOAKIA ESTATES ON BALDWIN/FOOTHILL. 31 HOMES, RANGING FROM 5000 to 6000 SQFT. 20% VARIANCE. irt ' I :i. ,�-•. T le r. as=ia O�� 5 i a ,a (Lincf'i"�F'fae�Mlay• r ,.•.;. ,JD ' -1 •- i ,, r 1 fit''. LINDA RAE WAY cul-de-sac/SANTA ANITA. 6 HOMES, RANGING FROM 4291 to 4586 SQFT. 8% SIZE VARIANCE. ""' ) : ,,,, r_:: r yr . ._.„r„, . �� rt 1 , .. _, ,.:, ,.• , „, ...y_ .7.el,r ,SS ..,v ry I ;. , Ili l Pr.11 '' ?t han (�J s. ! �: n • _ c r ;xa - .. d j . A .L1' 1 . , At ,...., , E. PALM DRIVE cul-de-sac/SANTA ANITA. 6 HOMES RANGING FROM 1991 to 2574 SQFT. 29% SIZE VARIANCE. r+w r,+ IfPr, fi ` 4Y v'�.i�l.r,v �� : Ni aJiii +4`..4 4' ,54 4 1P r' p`w A' ; \ r• t !. ,,, ,,.YICO'a L ._fir... ?' ".. 1gi�1ifs , -3r 'p _ _ LA VIDA LANE cul-de-sac/BALDWIN. 6 HOMES RANGING FROM 3585 to 4183 SQFT. 8% SIZE VARIANCE. Lisa Mussenden From: Mary Buttice Sent: Monday, February 02, 2015 7:49 AM To: Dominic Lazzaretto;Jason Kruckeberg; Linda Garcia; Lisa Mussenden; Jim Kasama Subject: The silent majority speaks Good morning Mayor and City Council, Please see email from the McKellars below. Thank you, Mary Mary Buttice Executive Assistant, City Manager's Office City of Arcadia 240 W. Huntington Drive, Arcadia, CA 91007 Phone: 626-821-4302 Fax 626-446-5729 mbuttice©ArcadiaCA.gov From: The McKellars [mailto:twojlmc yahoo.com] Sent: Friday, January 30, 2015 6:12 PM To: City Council Email Subject: The silent majority speaks An Open Letter To The Arcadia City Council: Being a Arcadia resident in the Highlands for 38+ years, I take great offense by Ms. Verlato representing herself as THE spokesperson for all 860 homes here in the Highlands. Just exactly how many current dues paying members are in the HOA? She does not even represent anything even near a majority. Clearly, Ms. Verlato's objective is to stop the construction of the approved house at 1600 Highlands Oaks, the property immediately south of her property. A design that has meet all the requirements so put forth by your Planning Department. Has anyone from the City bothered to ask the property owner immediately south of 1600 what their opinion is? Certainly, they will be equally impacted by the mass, etc, etc, that Ms. Veralto is citing. She is also now claiming that all projects up here must be ranch design to preserve the historical feel of the area and the house at 1600 should not be "dozed". Any amateur architectural critic can see the house in question is modern in design---not ranch that she insists on. The diversity of the residents in the Highlands as well of the diversity of the architecture in the Highlands is changing: simply look around. The 1950's is a half a century behind us-- the times they are a changing. I also am upset that in her e-mails to the residents, she states that the ARB members are elected by the members...which in truth, they are agreed upon by the Board. Just when was this "open" election held? Ms Verlato has no foundation to stand on in pushing her personal agenda and her subjective architectural desires upon us Highland residents and the city. And, one of the jokes of this circus atmosphere that they have created is that the Chair. of the ARB, whose residence is 1220 Highlands Oaks, resides in a VERY modern home in design and it is a disgrace in appearance, has been cited a few times times for: No garage, No driveway which causes them to park their cars on our street 24/7. Perhaps Code Enforcement should visit this property before others do similar tricks. Talk about practicing what you preach...their double talk has no merit. They simply can't be taken serious. It is time to give the green light to the projects they are contesting and move on to the more important business that you face and make more positive moves to continue to improve our city. Thank you for your time. Jim McKellar 2000 Oaks PI. 355-7990 2 Lisa Mussenden Subject: FW: Message from Prior Owners of 1600 Highland Oaks, Arcadia Ca 91006 From: Ash Rizk [mailto:arizk@coldwellbanker.com] Sent: Friday, January 30, 2015 11:45 AM To:jwuo218Ca1gmail.com; garykovacicgmail.com; Tom Beck; City Council Email; Sho Tay Cc: Ash Rizk; Jason Kruckeberg Subject: Message from Prior Owners of 1600 Highland Oaks, Arcadia Ca 91006 Mr. Mayor and City Council Members, My name is Ash Rizk, and I am a Real Estate agent and a home owner of the Highland Oaks, my address is 1204 Oakwood Drive. As you heard on the January 20th appeal meeting for the property at 1600 Highland Oaks Drive, my character was scrutinized and my reputation was somewhat tarnished. I have a great reputation and I have never done anything to hurt or jeopardize my character. Clients and people who know me will attest to that, it's the people and potential clients that have listened to April announce to the whole city about how I strong armed them to sell their property to a Developer and that I told them that no one would be interested in their home except for a developer. I am very upset at the accusations against me by April Verlato. I reached out to the prior owners and invited them to watch the hearing on the Arcadia website, she called me after that and she was appalled by the accusations, and by what was said about her being ill, and that was the reason they had to sell. This was personal information that shouldn't have been expressed to the world to hear. My clients wrote a letter and sent it to all of you, I am hoping that you all received and had a chance to read it, I am also attaching it to this email,just in case it wasn't received. I am simply asking if this letter can be read at the Feb 3rd meeting. The community needs to know how she is trying to sabotage anything that comes in between her and her goal, it would also show that she is not as credible as the community thinks she is, I would greatly appreciate that. I am also working with our Coldwell Banker attorney to have her publicly apologize and retract these accusations against me, we will be looking at the next steps soon. Any help from City Council would be greatly appreciated. Thank you, Ash Rizk Coldwell Banker Arcadia Regional Office 15 E. Foothill Blvd Arcadia, Ca 91006 626-393-5695 Cell 626-574-2321 Office 626-609-4411 Fax www.AshRizk.com Top Producer 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY OF EXCELLENCE- 2014, 2013 TOP 2 In the Arcadia Regional Office of 140 Agents Over 50 Homes sold in 2014 <Kristen and John Love_1600 Highland Oaks Drive.pdf5 1 • /*Vl I CWWY:11 re Cr o '-�rr RECEIVED 1 c y 4 CITY OF ARCADIA DL,, Lam, JaSGr, JAN 2 1 2015 Q p.d kA' CITY COUNCIL 1730 Alta Oaks Arcadia, CA 91006 January 21, 2015 Dear Mayor Wuo I thought I would have five minutes for my presentation last night so when I heard it was to be three minutes I tried to eliminate some of it but I'm afraid I did not do a very good job of it. So, I'd sure appreciate you reading the material I had prepared and will attach to this note. Thanks very much John. Bruce McCallum RECEIVED r�"g,S /S CITY OF ARCADIA i ; -'`'S°1 t h ��� 1-1 SIC , T'»' CITY COUNCIL A i id,ta trii ; / i l I o 49 I/ / bke't S�y�/3( .�e , 4.-/--- • ' 4 J'2Lt , >a i j r / '/ '/ 1/0/ o,J,°" Jib i Z,--a i 0/ 1 i-1 ' i / / / / ,d}li- 'ON _,i.�'�,d, -/a ,4 I?2V -- - . --r ,J=7-/ - i /, lai - i or ` ,v /I / I i % 7 ,A 1 i % / d /� // / / iiL .//.GY U zi 1, 4ez I i " ,. ,% ,'-1��✓ 1 �� _ ,AAA /. - / / al A . , , 4-i-k . �;,/ 0� - ,, ,p y i , -/ __,At ir./ / 4,--• / i r ale>, / ' ,-b& , f ' - 4/di ',..Za6 /WO" 1-Y f e 4//f/ i'/ I'",, 4 , ./zizLe4 ,&j or - ,A / / az- r / bz,.7 d- ,/t.,&.... , -; J.Z.- , /7,_k , ��� r / / I 1 li i .f / 1/ ft WI/ "! /. ..i ,/ ,z0.) -41,k A ,-41-4 i-61i-htt ilm /drxic ,4/a i ,/ t, // , ,/,/, ,,_,/,‘//-z_ ,71 /9 /i / ' 1 ' Esc , % = 9/017 Ii II ADENA STAR-NEWS vPASADENASTARNEWS.CCM m a F. r NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH McMansion projects on hold - L.A. City Council moves to restrict , construction of oversize houses By Dakota Smith being overrun by specta- dakota.smith @langnews.com tors and developers with @dakotacdsmith on Twitter these mansions," Koretz s •,,,,, \, said. IP Amid complaints Numerous neighbor- t`about newly built over- hood councils, including �!) size homes proliferat- the one in Valley Village, 0 ing in areas such as Stu- wrote letters supporting ' dio City and Larchmont, the tighter restrictions. CO the City Council on Tues- President Tony Braswell .p. day moved to stop the said a family tore down 1::+ '* construction of so-called an existing residence on F-1. "McMansions." Carpenter Avenue and 4::, The council voted to built a two story Mc- enact immediate laws Mansion often called • that would restrict the NIMBY homes, as in ` size of dwellings in 14 "not in my backyard" - neighborhoods in Los that overlooks surround Angeles. In the Valley, ing homes.The neighbors 14�� the law will apply to Old lost their privacy,and one "- \ k Granada Hills and Valley family moved because of \_ €'� Village. the encroachment, Bras- 2 )ii Community groups well noted in an inter- Q !I contend builders are us- view. , , ing loopholes in the 2008 "You drop one of these , fl Baseline Mansionization giant houses in, and it Act to erect homes that just changes the entire re." N t are out of character with character of the neigh- - 1 9 the size and scope of sur- borhood,"Braswell said. rounding structures. The new laws will take The council's action at least 60 days to write, seeks to close those ex- city officials said emptions, which cur- The council also moved O ,� rently allow homeown- to create new zoning reg- H 0 01 r:ers to build larger res- ulations and seek his- '. --' A .N idences if, for example, torical designations for -- 44 trin green building elements numerous other neigh C i-1 are included. borhoods. The.areas in A 1)1iiiiH City Councilman Paul tended for protections, c� 0 Koretz, who pushed for which would limit con- , C' the changes, complained struction activity,include at Tuesday's meeting Sunset Square, Cathay about the "explosion" Square, Holmby-West- of "out-of-scale devel- wood,Oxford Square,and opment" in his district, El Serena which includes Encino, Separately,the council Beverlywood and Car-• is working on a citywide thay Circle. law to address the build- "Neighborhoods are ing of larger homes.