Mansionization
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Pasadena, California Celebrating 51 years of community service Fall 2013 LAND USE / PLANNING EDUCATION OPEN SPACE / CONSERVATION NEIGHBORHOOD SAFETY GOVERNMENT PARKS / RECREATION Super-sizing the American Dream MANSIONIZATION: at the expense of the other dreamers By Mic Hansen our hilly terrain, zoning guidelines for flat Opinion parcels are far more forgiving, thus less he City of Los Angeles’ Planning effective in preventing these unsightly and Department defines mansionization as by those who feel entitled to contravene disproportionate houses that have recently T“… new construction or additions on local norms. It disrespects the rights of begun to appear more frequently. Often just residentially zoned lots that are out-of-scale neighbors and destroys the very ambiance one out-of-scale and poorly designed house [size, context and compatibility] with the and values that made the neighborhood undermines the entire neighborhood and surrounding neighborhood, but which comply attractive and desirable in the first place. alters its ambiance, feel and property values. with the current City zoning regulations.” By ignoring aesthetics, context, scale and Pasadena is generally known for its inimitable, appropriate design, the intrusion of a single In a built-out area like Pasadena, where land diverse neighborhoods of distinct and such “McMansion,” as these structures values are at a premium and larger homes are proportionate housing graced by stands of are dubbed by some, compromises the sought in highly desirable neighborhoods, mature and stately trees. We need not silently neighborhood fabric — affecting its visual this regrettable practice has emerged. To those accept the unsightly intrusions that are integrity, context, coherence, and the privacy determined to inhabit — or invest in — such beginning to encroach into our established of adjacent residences. A corollary to this is a preferred neighborhood and large home, neighborhoods, along with the buzz saws buyers who purchase an existing home on a the answer seems self-evident: enlarge or that cut down the shade trees to make way larger parcel and proceed to subdivide the demolish-then-replace a proportionate, for them. lot to inflict multiple McMansions upon the contextual, and sound existing home with an neighborhood. Guiding Principles (#2 and #7) from the City’s out-of-scale and out-of-context behemoth. General Plan advocate respect for harmonious Although Pasadena’s hillside zoning ordinance At best this is an unfortunate, and more change and community participation. helps mitigate this type of adventurism on often than not a harmful and selfish practice Continued on page 14 Bridge will close during project La Loma Bridge retrofit/rehab project may start in early 2014 By Blaine Cavena WPRA Treasurer he La Loma Bridge, now more than 90 years old, was determined to be Tdeficient and deteriorating in reviews conducted after the Loma Prieta earthquake. The City subsequently approved a seismic retrofit and rehabilitation plan that will restore and preserve much of the bridge’s historic character and appearance. The City reports the construction may start in early 2014 and should last for 18 months, although geologic complexities and Caltrans La Loma Bridge, watercolor by Joseph Stoddard Continued on page 12 WPRA IN MOTION WPRA concludes archery, if safe, has place in Arroyo By Bill Urban be removed from the LAMP. Furthermore, B. Certify and identify, in coordination WPRA president there were no reported incidents of with PRA, those authorized to use the interference of walkers, joggers or range or provide instruction to people n a recent letter to the City, the West equestrians with archers. not yet authorized. Pasadena Residents’ Association (WPRA) 3. Trails to be used by archers and those C. Adopt, by ordinance, the rules for use of shared its recommendations regarding I for walkers are clearly delineated in the the Lower Arroyo, especially the archery archery activity in the Lower Arroyo LAMP. These should continue to be used as range and adjacent areas. Only in this range. Informing those recommendations described. way can rules be enforced and, when were concerns and insights gathered by a necessary, appropriate penalties issued. committee of the WPRA met with City staff 4. Safety concerns are an issue for everyone members, the Pasadena Roving Archers and must be addressed by the City of 5. The reference in the LAMP (Section 4.3.5) (PRA) and other local residents. Pasadena, even though there have been to “14” as the maximum allowable targets in no reported injuries during the past 65 or the southern range is an error. The northern Based on this input, the WPRA board so years that archers have pursued their range targets should be 14 (Section 4.3.4), concluded that: sport in the lower Arroyo Seco. The WPRA however, the number of permissible 1. Archery, as specified in the Lower Arroyo recommends that the City: targets in the southern range should be 28, Master Plan (LAMP) adopted by City which is consistent with usage that can be A. Clearly post and enforce rules for archers Council on September 29, 2003, is an documented by the PRA and City staff. City and other users of the Lower Arroyo integral activity of the Lower Arroyo Seco Council should take necessary action to Seco. This is critical and should include natural preservation area. WPRA supports clarify in the LAMP the correct number of timely installation of signs and natural this continued use. archery targets for each range. barriers, in accordance with LAMP 2. During the Arroyo Seco Master Planning design guidelines. (ASMP) process, which was fully supported by WPRA, no one suggested that archery About us Mission: Founded in 1962, the West 2013 – 2014 board of directors Pasadena Residents’ Association is dedicated • Sarah Gavit to maintaining the character of our • Joan Hearst community and enhancing the quality of life in West Pasadena. • Chuck Hudson ([email protected]) Communications Director The News is mailed each quarter to Area: nearly 7,000 homes in the 91105 and The WPRA service area is bounded on • Laura Kaufman the north by Colorado Boulevard, on the east 91103 ZIP codes. • Audrey O’Kelley, past president by Fair Oaks Avenue and on the south and Editor: Chuck Hudson • Marilyn Randolph ([email protected]) west by the city limits. ([email protected]), Education chair Funding: All WPRA activities are funded Communications Director • Priscilla Taylor through membership dues and contributions. • Michael Udell, past president The WPRA is most grateful to Castle The WPRA receives no public funding and has Press for design and printing services. no paid employees. Since the WPRA is a • John Van de Kamp 501(c)(3) non-profit public benefit corporation, • Fred Zepeda, past president P. O. Box 50252 Pasadena, CA 91115-0252 contributions and donations are fully • Linda Zinn ([email protected]) deductible to the extent permitted by law. Membership, Open Space & Visit our website at wpra.net Conservation chairs 2013 – 2014 officers The West Pasadena Residents’ President: Bill Urban ([email protected]) Association is a 501(c)(3) non-profit Vice Presiden: Catherine Stringer public benefit corporation. ([email protected]) Treasurer: Blaine Cavena ([email protected]) Secretary: Robert Holmes ([email protected]) The News 2 Fall 2013 The News 3 Fall 2013 CITY IN MOTION New committee considers San Rafael School’s future By Catherine Stringer WPRA Vice President he Pasadena Unified School District has previously stated that at some Tpoint in the future it plans to relocate San Rafael Elementary School (SRES) due to discovery of seismic faults running beneath the school site. As a result, the District is prohibited from making structural The long awaited Rose Bowl Brick Campaign is up and running. Don’t miss your chance to be improvements to campus buildings. among the first to purchase your brick. Buying a brick enables you to have your personalized brick incorporated into the iconic plaza in front of Gate A, leading to the main entrance of the At its August 27 meeting, the PUSD School stadium. The premium 8” x 8” legacy bricks ($425–$350) take center stage as they will create the Board took two actions relevant to the iconic rose pattern. The 4” x 8” ($100) bricks will make up the plaza bands surrounding the rose. Premium rose brick options also include a keepsake replica brick. Replica bricks are made of issue of SRES’ eventual relocation, which is the same material and inscribed with the same personal message as the installed stadium brick required under current state law. (premium replicas will be rose red). Become part of history “one brick at a time” to ensure the Rose Bowl’s future for generations to come. For more information and to place an order now, 1. The Board approved a motion to solicit visit rosebowlbricks.com. lease bids for the now-shuttered Linda Vista campus, which many have argued should be considered as an alternative site for San Rafael Elementary. Avenue 64 coalition seeks safer road 2. The board has formed a “7-11 committee,” a District advisory committee tasked with June 2013 accident on Avenue 64, measures and a fatal accident had occurred determining whether SRES should be which resulted in the death of a on Avenue 64 at Elder. The coalition is also designated as a surplus property, the first A cyclist, proved to be the last straw scheduling a meeting with Los Angeles step to closing, leasing or selling the school for a group of 40 area residents. The group, District 14 Councilmember José Huizar. including a representative of the West site. [The committee is required to have at Following input and discussion, the Pasadena Residents’ Association, formed least seven, but no more than 11 members, coalition identified a list of potential traffic an Avenue 64 coalition and set as its goal hence its name.] calming measures: to make the road safer, especially between Because the school buildings meet all Field La Loma Road in Pasadena and Meridian n Raised and planted medians, as well Act requirements for earthquake safety, Street in Los Angeles.