In a split vote, City Council approved an ordinance that effectively doubles business license fees bringing Arcadia to roughly the mid-point in fees charged by other Los Angeles County cities.
A convenience shopping center has been approved by the Arcadia Redevelopment Agency for the southeast corner of Huntington Drive and Santa Anita Avenue. The businesses now occupying the land (a Texaco station, Burrito Flats restaurant, Miller's Carpet Care and Drive-Through Liquor) will have to be removed.
Four proposals have been received by the Arcadia Redevelopment Department for a development on Huntington Drive in east Arcadia, across the street from the proposed Target Store. All four meet the criteria set out by the Redevelopment Agency. The agency had requested builders to design either retail stores, a professional office building, or a fine restaurant.
The Board of Directors of the Arcadia Chamber of Commerce voted unanimously to support a retail use for the property being considered for a Target Department Store. The committee did not specifically say that Target would be the preferred use.
Arcadia City Council agreed to extend a moratorium against commercial buildings with rear windows facing residential properties. Action followed earlier urgency ordinance ... passed at request of residents on Laurel Avenue.
The City Council has approved a new home occupation ordinance that allows certain occupations to be carried out in the home. A city permit is required.
A draft ordinance has been submitted to the City Council that would allow Arcadia residents to conduct businesses out of their homes if certain criteria are met and a permit is approved. According to current law, such businesses are illegal.
Mayor Bob Margett, in a speech to the Chamber of Commerce, suggested that the city start checking up on businesses operating out of homes within the city.
Marquee West use permit: new hurdle. Operators of the Marquee West teenage night club at 30 S. First Avenue will face a new hurdle when Planning Commission will reconsider the conditional use permit under which the center operates. The staff recommendation will be to revoke the permit, "due to the inability to control irresponsible behavior and the apparent inability of Marquee West to comply fully with all the conditions of the permit." See hard copy of newspaper in Box 51.
Three city-owned lots at 521 N. First Avenue, adjacent to the Foothill Freeway, were sold last week by the Arcadia City Council to the W. D. Wilson Co., which will construct a building on the site and move from its present location in South Pasadena. James J. Melas, president of the W. D. Wilson Co. and an Arcadia resident said his firm deals in sophisticated biomedical supplies and unusual alloys and fittings for medical instruments. Selling price was $41,500. The city originally purchased the lots from the state Department of Highways for $33,000.
The City Council has turned down Bob Margett's request to build a skate board park with 60 person capacity on Live Oak Avenue. Noise and congestion were the reasons given.
A new defensive weapon which shoots darts capable of inflicting 50,000 volts of electricity lasting about a micro-second is being manufactured in Arcadia. It is being marketed by Glen Mead and is called the Taser Gun.