Proposed two-story home at 1101 S. Fifth Avenue causes kerfuffle. At this week's Arcadia City Council meeting, the project's neighbors appealed the Planning Commission's decision to approve the design of the 3588 s.f. house. Neighbors complain of loss of light and privacy. In a 3-2 vote, the Planning Commission's decision was upheld on the conditions that the owner remove windows on the north and south sides of the second floor.
Arcadia City Council urges citizens to help with voter fraud investigation and City Attorney Stephen Dietsch provided direction on the city's efforts to investigate several allegations against Mayor Pro Tempore Sho Tay and Dietsch explained the Ralph M. Brown Act.
Arcadia city council election results undecided after city receives 999 more ballots yesterday. The second and final count will be completed on April 21. Tentative results had Peter Amundson and April Verlato in the lead, but Bob Harbicht is trailing not far behind. There were 2 seats to be filled.
Arcadia City Council delays vote on Arcadia Highlands home building projects. Council will address the matter again on February 3, to allow for more time to vet newly received petitions from area residents and a detailed letter from an attorney representing a leading opponent of the developments, that the City received last week. Both projects, one at 1600 Highland Oaks Drive, the other at 29 East Orange Grove Avenue, and both designed by Robert Tong of Arcadia-based Sanyao International Inc., involve the demolition of vintage homes to make room for larger residences.
A $600,000 grant from the Azusa-based San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountain Conservancy, plus $200,000 of in-kind amenities provided by the County Department of Parks and Recreation, will help fund a face lift for Peck Road Park at 5401 Peck Road.
Los Angeles County's 2017 homelessness count has gone up 23% from the previous year and District 5, where Arcadia, Monrovia and Pasadena lie, has exceeded the county high at 30%. Measure H funds from a 1/4 cent sales tax increase in Los Angeles County, creates estimated $355 million per year to use on homeless initiative. Los Angeles Board of Supervisors voted on how to properly allocate over a billion dollars from Measure H to help prevent and combat homelessness.
City of Arcadia to update Recreation and Park Master Plan. Seeking resident input. The last update was 2007. See also Arcadia Weekly, p. 4, June 4, 2015.
Arcadia residents hoping to vote to curb home sizes. Groups want city to have a lot less 'mansionization' and are circulating a petition for a ballot initiative that aims to set square footage regulations for new residential development projects.
Colorado Boulevard between Santa Anita Avenue and San Antonio Road will be closed for nearly 5 months to allow crews to build a bridge needed for Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension. The Colorado Boulevard bridge is one of three Gold Line bridges to be built on Arcadia streets. The stretch of Colorado Boulevard will be closed 24 hours/day, 7 days/week until April 30.
Arcadia City Council does not pursue ballot iniative on home building rules. As the city's effort to update the zoning code continues into the new year, the Arcadia City Council briefly considered sponsoring its own voter initiative to rival a measure from residents that is currently the subject of a petition to qualify for an upcoming election ballot, but City Council decided against pursuing its own ballot iniative because the petition process would not conclude in time to qualify for the April ballot.
Arcadia settles building project lawsuit, paves the way to update residential zoning code and including Highland Oaks neighborhood in a citywide historic preservation survey.
A team of designers and builders (photo) from Kiewit Parsons firm working on the Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension prepare to remove the existing railroad bridge on Colorado Boulevard between San Antonio Road and Santa Anita Avenue in Arcadia. That section of Colorado Boulevard may close today. The portion of Colorado Boulevard west of North Santa Anita Avenue, is scheduled to be closed from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM weekdays through June 8, to remove the existing railroad bridge. Since the Colorado Boulevard bridge was once an old freight line bridge, it is not wide enough to accommodate light rail trains and tracks, and thus, will be demolished over the next 4 weeks.
46th Annual Mayor's Community Breakfast to honor women of Arcadia, on February 21, 2020. Mayor April Verlato will give the State of the City Address. Dr. Jasmine Sharma will give keynote address
Arcadia City Council member and Mayor Pro Tem Roger Chandler said he wouldn't want the basketball courts rebuilt because he doesn't like the "type" they attract. The old courts have been demolished already and City Council eventually recommitted to an improvement plan that permanently eliminates Eisenhower Park's basketball courts. Chandler's comments prompted an immediate uproar from residents in attendance. Council member April Verlato said his use of the phrase "the type" could be perceived as racist but doesn't think he meant it that way, but he should apologize. The renovated park will cost nearly $6.3 million, including a baseball diamond and large picnic area.
Are April Verlato and Peter Amundson the new City Council? Election totals could change after 1300 more votes are counted. The late and provisional votes will be counted at Arcadia City Hall today.
Is historic preservation important to Arcadia? Arcadia City Council recently met and considered the most recent historic preservation proposal. It did not pass but was not entirely dismissed. Several city council members agreed that the City should adopt some sort of historic preservation policy, but the citizens fear homeowner's rights will be infringed upon. See hard copy in VF City Council 2010-2019.