The Hughes-El Rancho Market is to be razed to make room for the construction of an entirely new building. The new market will be twice the size of the old. Several shops in the center will vacate to make way for the expansion.
The City Council unanimously approved a zone change that would prohibit future lot splits in the Lower Rancho Area. The revision increased the minimum lot size from 15,000 to 20,000 square feet.
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.
City Council has approved a zone change for the area bounded by the 210 Freeway, Fifth Avenue, the Santa Fe Tracks and Second Avenue. The area is now CPD (Commercial Planned Development).
The Arcadia City Council approved a zoning plan to squeeze sex shops into a little corner of the city, but it was over objections of several El Monte residents.
Lowery McCaslin, owner of Anoakia, has asked that his application for a general plan change for the property be withdrawn. He has been working with a local builder who has a good feel for the area and would like to develop the property at a density of 2.4 homes per acre. Late in this same meeting, the council voted to change the zoning on the estate to match the existing general plan. What this might do to future McCaslin plans is not clear.
Residents have petitioned the Planning Commission to change the area's zoning from R-1 (7500 square feet) to R-O&D (30,000 square feet) because of fears that Mr. McCaslin, owner of Anoakia, may build too densely.
Public hearing on Anoakia-area zone change allows citizen input. Hearing is on a Planning Commission resolution recommending approval of a zone change from R-0 30,000 to R-0 30,000 and D for the Anoakia area. This means that residential lots must contain at least 30,000 square feet. The D stands for "design overlay," which gives the property owners' association an opportunity to review architectural plans for development.
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 Arcadia Welfare and Thrift Shop is beginning its 51st year. Thrift shop manager Dorothy Smith tells of the changes and growth since its opening during the depression, and describes the types of merchandise to be found in the "non-profit department store with thrift shop prices."
Arcadia Planning Commission has approved a zone change for the Anoakia property from R-O 30,000 to R-O and D 22,000. The zone change will allow owner Lowrey McCaslin to develop the 19.13 acre site with 29 to 32 homes instead of 23.