Arcadia City Council approves changes to Zoning Code and General Plan. The goal was to update it and bring it up to current development standards. Certain sections were decided on separately, including the single-family development standards, which were updated in April, while short-term rentals and vacant home registry will be considered later. The code was reorganized and now addresses emerging issues such as shopping carts being used outside retail areas and aims to make sure the high quality of development expected is clearly articulated.
On Wednesday, April 10, the planning commission met in what was to be their first meeting to discuss and review certain aspects of the General Plan Update for 1996. Approximately 200 people crowded the council chamber and the meeting was declared a safety hazard. The rescheduled meeting will be held at the community center.
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.
The city council has decided to appropriate $35,000 toward the design of a light rail bridge over Santa Anita Avenue. This is to pay for early design work needed for an environmental impact report. The bridge project is expected to cost the city $10.7 million which may come from a bond. The Construction Authority would pay $18.4 million bringing total bridge cost to $29.1 million.
The Arcadia City Council unanimously approved a General Plan update that aims to make the future Metro Gold Line station the heart of a revitalized downtown and the plan includes a revitalization of Live Oak Avenue.
The City Council reviewed the general plan which was revised in December 1990, the first revision since the 1970's. This was the first time the City reviewed its progress in meeting the new plan's goals.
Instead of spending $300,000 to put an addition on the Arcadia Police Department building, the Arcadia City Council has adopted a plan to spend 1/3 as much to provide temporary office space.
Arcadia City Council approved an update to the cross-department software Laserfiche. The update, budgeted to cost $33,785, is essential to the digitization of city records.
The City Council will hear a report of the proposed Noise Level portion of the General Plan on Tuesday. A Noise Level Plan consists of a statement of community goals and the identification of local noise sources.
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 approved a revision of Arcadia's General Plan, the foundation for which all land-use decisions are made, so that regulating growth is one of the main aims of the revised plan. Article includes a list of the Plan's goals and policies.
City Council unanimously agreed to hold a June election to attempt to bail the school district out of its financial troubles. Proposition A would increase the utility tax by 2%, bringing in $550,000. Proposition B would raise the tax an additional 1% bringing $250,000 more. The funds would be for maintenance of school property and facilities used by the city.
City Council approved lending the city redevelopment agency $1.2 million Tuesday to cover additional cost overruns with Downtown 2000 and other projects.
A proposed ranch house called a "a monstrosity" by one Arcadia neighbor and a "a hay barn" by another will not be built, the Arcadia City Council decided. The 2-story house with a 3-car garage attached was proposed for the lot at 400 Columbia Road.
After presentations by 3 architectural firms Tuesday night, the Arcadia City Council voted 4-1 to ask one of the companies back for further discussion on doing a master plan for the city's proposed civic center project. The proposed center would probably be located on the Huntington Drive median where the city hall and police station are now located. Mayor David Hannah indicated that this could be a long-term project, perhaps lasting as long as 20 years.
The city has decided against trying to lease a vacated elementary school for a senior citizen center. Seniors are interested in having a drop-in center but the additional cost of leasing a school would not be justified.
Planning Commission members and Planning Director Bill Woolard were bitterly disappointed at the slim turn-out of residents at a recent and much publicized hearing to review zoning in the city's central area.
Residents irate over plans for a mansion at 2235 Hollis Lane by designer Marvin Fong. The proposed project violates several provisions in the city's zoning code and is nearly 3x the size of homes in the neighborhood.
The Arcadia Planning Commission has endorsed unanimously a revision of the city's General Plan, the policy-setting document for everything from housing and land use to noise and safety.