The environmental impact report (EIR) for the proposed Shops at Santa Anita is now available. The report must be reviewed by the City Council before the development can be built. The report includes traffic studies of certain intersections and the economic effect on Westfield Shoppingtown.
The Arcadia City Council is considering changes to fees charged by the city through the Development Services Department. One change might be a $25 fee for new business license applications. The fees may increase for design review of new commercial projects and appeals from an architectural review board to the Planning Commission. The General plan amendment fee may drop and tentative tract maps for condos may drop. The city plans to increase fines for code violations.
Arcadia city officials have approved across-the-board fee increases that are expected to generate $500,000 in revenue this year. Parking tickets will go up from an average of $40 to $50. Other fees going up include building permits, towing fees, business license fees, water, street, and engineering services.
Arcadia's neighboring cities of San Marino and Pasadena are worried about the impact of mall traffic. Caruso spokesperson Julie Wong says the developer is listening and will respond to all concerns as part of the environmental review process.
Recreation classes and programs for Arcadia residents will be increased for everyone except senior citizens under a new fee schedule adopted by the City Council.
A package of new and increased city service fees designed to eliminate a potential budget shortfall will take effect on September 1, 2008. The higher fees are expected to bring Arcadia nearly $512,000 in the new fiscal year, by increases in fire services, swim classes, business licenses, plan checks and library services.
Gail Marshall, former City Council member, was hired by Caruso Affiliated to consult on The Shops at Santa Anita mall project. The revised plan and environmental impact report (EIR) is now available to the public at the Arcadia Public Library in hardcopy and a CD-ROM is available for a fee at City Hall.
The city was awarded $300,000 by the federal government to be used on a project to improve traffic flow along the Santa Anita Avenue corridor. The project calls for installing an underground conduit and interconnecting twelve intersections.
Traffic conditions at the intersection of Foothill Boulevard and Fifth Avenue have caused the city councils of Arcadia and Monrovia to approve a resolution for $30,670 to widen the intersection.
Caruso Affiliated will give Arcadia $2 million in development fees and receive assurances from the city under the terms of a 63-page draft agreement released Friday. The agreement gives Caruso the assurance they can build what is approved. Caruso must dedicate a portion of the parking lot for City Hall to construct a water well. This was the topic of recent controversial closed session meetings held by City Council.
Mall developer Rick Caruso has announced that he has removed 300 apartments from the proposed Shops at Santa Anita. Arcadians were concerned that the housing at the mall would contribute to overcrowding at Arcadia High School. Without the apartments, the project will be an open air mall instead of a mixed use development.
Rick Caruso, who is planning to build a new mall at the Santa Anita Park race track, invited guests from Arcadia to The Grove to get community feedback on his proposed development. He is trying to learn things about what Arcadians want or need. He expresses his philosophy and background.
Massage therapists will have to pay a $265 fee to be licensed in Arcadia under a new city ordinance. A background check will be done on applicants and they will be fingerprinted.
Developer Caruso Affiliated has submitted a revised plan and environmental impact report (EIR) for review for the proposed development on the parking lot of the Santa Anita Park race track, called The Shops at Santa Anita.
City council members refute charges that they met in private with a developer and property owner. Arcadia councilman Bob Harbicht said council did not meet in closed sessions, but met only with city staff to discuss land located in the parking lot of Santa Anita Park. The Council has never met privately with Caruso Affiliated or Magna Entertainment.
Westfield Group, owner of Westfield Shoppingtown Santa Anita, plans to sue the City of Arcadia and developer Caruso Affiliated to prevent The Shops at Santa Anita, the outdoor mall, from being built.