Plans for a series of office buildings and a high-rise hotel in the Arcadia redevelopment area require general plan and zone changes. The first move is an environmental impact report for the area bounded by the 210 Freeway on the north, the railroad tracks on the south, Fifth Avenue on the east and Second Avenue on the west.
The general plan will be reviewed by the Planning Commission. The "central area" will be the focus of study. This area runs from the 210 Foothill freeway on the north to Duarte Road on the south and from the east city boundary to Santa Anita Avenue. It also includes the commercial section west of Santa Anita Avenue and north of Huntington Drive.
The Planning Commissioners have recommended a change in the city's zoning laws to limit the floor area of new residential structures of 40% of the lot on which they are built.
The Arcadia Planning Department has been asked by the City Council to prepare amendments to the municipal code which would limit building bulk and visual intrusion of new commercial buildings adjacent to residentially zoned properties. Various recommendations are discussed.
The Arcadia Redevelopment Agency approved the purchase of $1.2 million in land owned by the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railway Co. at 21 North 2nd Avenue to be used as part of the Northwest Corner Project of commercial development.
The City Council has moved closer to limiting high-rise construction in Arcadia by endorsing zoning changes that will allow fewer floors in future buildings.
The Planning Commission has rejected proposed General Plan changes that would have permitted hi-density zoning in the Naomi-Camino Real-Golden West area and left it medium density. The General Plan and the zoning map are still not in conformity, which was one reason the hearing was called.
The Republic Development Co. made a report to the City Council concerning redevelopment of the area around Fifth Avenue, Santa Clara Street, and Santa Anita Wash. Proposals include 3 five-story office buildings and expansion of retail stores into the area.
The Planning Commission is endeavoring to make Arcadia's General Plan more flexible and more consistent with zoning regulations. The Commission will submit its changes to the City Council for final approval.
The City Council on May 6 passed a resolution as required by law consenting to the annexation of the Anoakia area. They also passed a second resolution requesting the Board of Supervisors to hold off on any general plans or zone change hearings until after the annexation election is held.
Construction of a 60-foot radio tower planned by the U.S. Forest Service for its facility just below the freeway on Santa Anita Avenue will go ahead according to schedule, despite objections from the Arcadia City Council.
New zip codes go into effect today. These include: 91006 - for all post office boxes in the main post office on Wheeler Street; 91077 - for all post office boxes in the West Arcadia Post Office; 91007 - for the area south of the 210 Freeway and west of Santa Anita Avenue.
By a 6 to 1 vote the Planning Commission on May 24 approved a new zone: R-M (single-family mountainous residential). The proposed ordinance will need to go before the City Council for adoption.
Council balks at ramp metering plan. Arcadia City Council Tuesday night approved a staff recommendation to file an amendment to the Regional Transportation Improvement Program with the county Transportation Commission. Council will ask that instead of proposed ramp metering on 210 Freeway, a fifth lane should be installed.
The first of several public hearings was held in re the Environmental Impact Report on proposed hillside development north of Foothills Junior High School. This represents one of the first tests of the city's new RM (Residential-Mountainous) zone.