Year-in-review 2003 found Arcadia having January windstorms, a year long centennial celebration, opening of the new police station and Santa Anita Park race track hosting the 20th Breeder's Cup.
Carol Libby was honored as Arcadia Senior of the Year for 2001 by the Arcadia Rotary Club. Carol has been in Arcadia since 1956 and is Curator at Arcadia Historical Society.
Arcadia City Councill will look at possible changes in the city code on floor area ratio (FAR), lot coverage, and design review for single-family homes. FAR refers to the combined floor area of buildings on a lot, compared to the size of the lot. Arcadia has a lot coverage rule that single-story homes can cover 45% of the lot and 2-story dwellings 35%. Arcadia currently has a citizen-run design review effort within homeowner associations in northern parts of Arcadia, but no citywide system.
The City Council voted unanimously to expand design review for single-family homes citywide. It is the latest effort in the fight against boxy mansions being built in Arcadia. The review board thinks Asian families like the big houses and the Asian families say they do want to fit in with the community.
Arcadia police are calling this past holiday season quiet in terms of criminal activity. The one crime of note was the bank robbery of Citizen's Business Bank on First Avenue on December 31, 2001.
Gold Line measure proposed. Supporters of the Metro Gold Line Extension through San Gabriel Valley are campaigning in Sacramento this week for legislation that would help create a new Gold Line authority. The new authority would provide for a 15-member board of representatives from the so-called Phase II cities, including Arcadia and Monrovia.