An activist group called Save the Arcadia Highlands is suing the City of Arcadia over two residential developments that Arcadia City Council approved in February, citing possible violations to "specific provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the California Planning and Zoning Law, filed March 12. The addresses involved are 29 East Orange Grove Avenue and 1600 Highland Oaks Drive. See also Arcadia Weekly, p. 1, 17, March 19, 2015.
Anoakia Mansion (Anita Baldwin’s home) 701 W. Foothill Blvd, Arcadia, CA. Located at Foothill Blvd at Baldwin Ave., later became 78 Anoakia School (1941-1989)-permits (building, plumbing), correspondence, zoning from 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1980s.
Anoakia Mansion (Anita Baldwin’s home) 701 W. Foothill Blvd, Arcadia, CA. Located at Foothill Blvd at Baldwin Ave., later became 78 Anoakia School (1941-1989)-permits (building, plumbing), correspondence, zoning from 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1980s.
Anti-mansionization goes to the ballot. Zoning code issue continues as anti-mansionization group Saving Arcadia (an outgrowth of Save the Arcadia Highlands) takes it to the ballot in April 2018. At issue are Floor Area Ratios (FAR). See also Arcadia Weekly, p. 1, 17, April 7, 2016-initiative did not make it onto ballot because of signature discrepancy.
April 12, 2016 municipal election divides the community. The big issues are mansions (over-building) in Arcadia and Measure A, the repeal of the Utility Users Tax (UUT).
Arcadia City Council approves Arcadia Highlands land development projects at 29 East Orange Grove Avenue and 1600 Highland Oaks Drive. The larger scale new construction of mansions will replace existing homes. The primary bone of contention came down to whether or not property owners' rights to maximize their investment and exercise freedom to build as they see fit should prevail over homeowners associations and residents concerned with maintaining a neighborhood's traditional aesthetic character while protecting neighboring properties' scenic views and privacy.
Arcadia City Council chooses to hold a comprehensive zoning code update, which backers said would have included changes to create a more business-friendly atmosphere, encourage economic growth, and curb overdevelopment in the sprawling foothills community.
Arcadia City Council clears way for massive new homes at 29 East Orange Grove Avenue and 1600 Highland Oaks Drive, despite opposition to the increasing "mansionization," from several members of the Highland Oaks Homeowners Association (HOA). City Council voted to move forward with both projects, finding they complied with city's zoning codes and were exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The two homes met the city's design guidelines and met the resolution that governs design in the HOA areas.
Arcadia City Council declines to further consider moratorium on residential construction. Opponents of temporary development freeze turn out in force. State law requires a five-member municipal panel have at least four votes to approve a moratorium on real estate development. The Council could not muster majority support.
Arcadia City Council delays vote on Arcadia Highlands home building projects. Council will address the matter again on February 3, to allow for more time to vet newly received petitions from area residents and a detailed letter from an attorney representing a leading opponent of the developments, that the City received last week. Both projects, one at 1600 Highland Oaks Drive, the other at 29 East Orange Grove Avenue, and both designed by Robert Tong of Arcadia-based Sanyao International Inc., involve the demolition of vintage homes to make room for larger residences.
Arcadia City Council does not pursue ballot iniative on home building rules. As the city's effort to update the zoning code continues into the new year, the Arcadia City Council briefly considered sponsoring its own voter initiative to rival a measure from residents that is currently the subject of a petition to qualify for an upcoming election ballot, but City Council decided against pursuing its own ballot iniative because the petition process would not conclude in time to qualify for the April ballot.
Arcadia City Council hears residents' concerns about large housing development and its associated loss of native sycamore trees. Council official abandons China and Taiwan (sister city) trip for now.
The Arcadia City Council introduced an ordinance on February 4 that targets over-sized houses and would reduce the scale, mass and bulk of single-family homes. The city wants to avoid the mansionization trend.
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.
Arcadia City Council recap: crime is rising in Arcadia and countrywide, with offenses predominantly concentrated in property crime. Council approves home designs at 29 East Orange Grove and 1600 Highland Oaks Drive now that their square footage will be reduced in revised designs. Council also unanimously authorized the $2 million purchase of 3000 acre feet of imported replacement water from Main San Gabriel Basin watermaster for the fiscal year 2015-2016.
Arcadia housing boom with Chinese dollars? Bloomberg BusinessWeek says kickbacks and Chinese cash deals are fueling the rapid growth of mansions in Arcadia.
Arcadia housing standards campaign to launch. City officials will engage in a "public education campaign" to inform residents about the city's current residential development standards and to look at what other communities are doing.
Arcadia Planning Commission denies 2236 Hollis Lane project, citing the applicant's lack of effort in finding a middle ground between the developers and the neighbors that oppose it. The applicant Marvin Fong aims to replace a 624 square-foot home with a 2500 square-foot home. Many Arcadians are concerned with "oversized" homes.