Arcadia City Council adopted a resolution last week, which consolidates the five homeowner associations' (HOA) development standards, design guidelines and design review procedures into one cohesive document for the first time. The uniform resolution protects only oak trees from removal and gives the HOAs authority to review homeowners' landscape and hardscape designs, such as driveways and walkways.
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 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.
The Arcadia City Council has approved a design review process for the upcoming addition to the Santa Anita Park race track. The procedure adopted requires review by the Planning Commission and the City Council of all preliminary site plans, floor plans, exterior architectural improvements, and new construction.
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 rejected a proposed draft resolution last week that several argued would give city-designated homeowner associations (HOA) too much power. During a study session, the Council discussed amending and consolidating the five HOAs' development standards, design guidelines and design review procedures into one cohesive document. Some argued the draft would give the associations' Architectural Review Boards (ARB)--which have architectural design review authority over the association area--too much control over the size of homes, setbacks and other issues. ARBs should look favorably on someone's dream home plans "unless it was so garish and outlandish that it might negatively affect property values," said Councilman Bob Harbicht. Opposition from Kevin Tomkins and Laurie Thompson.
Arcadia Planning Commission voted to support the Rancho Santa Anita Homeowners Association's Architecture Review Board (ARB) in its decision to reject changes in Ibraham Irawan's home under construction at 821 San Vicente Road.
Arcadia seeking volunteers for charter review committee to update the City's charter, a document that defines the organization, its powers, functions and essential procedures. Last review update was 1998.
The City Council considers adopting a floor area ratio (FAR) guideline for single family homes. The FAR sets the total buildable size of a home at a percntage figure of the lot size.
The City Council voted unanimously to expand design review for single-family homes citywide. It is the latest effort in the fight against boxy mansions being built in Arcadia. The review board thinks Asian families like the big houses and the Asian families say they do want to fit in with the community.
Despite opposition from residents, the Arcadia City Council cleared the way for a property owner to build a 7,730 square feet home on a 27,000 s.f. corner lot on the city's north side, on 1100 block of San Carlos Road. The council's 3-2 vote overturned the Santa Anita Oaks Homeowners Association's Architectural Review Board and the Planning Commision. The owners are Hourig Baghdadlian and her husband.
The history of local restaurant The Derby, since it was originally founded in 1922 as Proctors Tavern, to being bought by jockey George Woolfe in 1938, then sold to Dominic and Lorene Sturniolo, or Sturinolo (article has it spelled both ways) is presented. See VF "Restaurants, Bars, etc." for copy of article.
In a unanimous vote, Arcadia City Council deals a blow to builder KVH Design Group, rejecting the developer's appeal and their plans to build a nearly 7,000 square foot two-story single-family house at 211 Monte Place. The Highlands Homeowners Association (HOA) Architectural Review Board (ARB) had turned down the plans on grounds that the proposed home was "incompatible in mass and scale to the surrounding buildings in the neighborhood." Arcadia City Council agreed.