News from Berklee College of Music
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AROUND SAN GABRIEL VALLEY SAFETY ONE OF A KIND SIERRA MADRE Monrovia Wins Sawpit Trail What Do You Really Know About Lawsuit Page 3 Energy? The “Perfect” Highland Oaks FARMERS MARKET PASADENA Page 5 Home English rose bushes were lov- ingly planted inside the white picket fence, NOW OPEN EVERY Gold Line Expansion Delayed THE WORLD AROUND US opening in a pale pink blush then matur- Pasadena Joins Foothill Transit Oops....What Just Hit Jupiter? ing to white, vine around the expanse of Board LA Going Google...A Bad Idea? fence that bends with the curved street, to WEDNESDAY UNTIL Page 4 Page11 the delight of walkers and drivers in the 8 PM neighborhood. Page 13 SATURDAY, JULY 25, 2009 VOLUME 3 NO. 30 Budget Stalemate Ends 1 Carter Extensions Recommended Usurping of City Road Funds Averted City Council To Vote on Request and Conditions Developers of the 1 Carter Improvement Plan. faithful performance; and project and their attorneys will 4. Execute an assignment and come before the Sierra Madre The primary reason cited for assumption of the third party City Council on Tuesday, July the request for extensions is the fee reimbursement agreement, 28th and request that the city fact that the previous owner including the obligation to grant an extension of one year and developer, Dorn Platz, One fund the costs of the formation of their vested rights to develop Carter LLC, et. al., lost control of a community facilities the project and an extension of the project via foreclosure in district, assessment district of six months for the Deferred December 2008. Since that or Mello-Roos district for the Improvement Agreement time, the new owners, CS One purpose of funding the ongoing (DIA). Both the Final Vested Carter LLC has attempted to maintenance, operation and Tract Map and the DIA were complete the work within the capital replacement of the initially granted for a period of time frame required. clarifier and all other storm two years. City staff has prepared drain infrastructure. The One Carter Project a report for the council The report also indicates consists of 29 Luxury Homes in which recommends that that the previously issued Sierra Madre. both extensions be granted. Environmental Impact Report However, the recommendation findings still apply as there have While the Vested Tract requires that the developer been no changes in the project. Map grants the authority to meet certain conditions before develop the lots as approved, August 21, 2009. All of the conditions are the DIA was an additional recommended to further protect agreement entered into by the Conditions for approval the city “against financial City Of Sierra Madre and the include: responsibility in project-related City Manager Elaine Aguilar was able to 2010 budget was prepared”, said Aguilar. 1. That the developer relax a little after the California Legislature “But, we were very worried about the HOTA previous owners, One Carter, costs”. passed a budget to fix a 26.3 million dollar funds.” LLC in 2007. At that time, executes and assignment and deficit without taking gas tax revenue from There are deep cuts in this budget aimed the agreement called for the assumption assuming all of The report also offers California cities. That money is used for at addressing the gaping hole in California developer to complete numerous the obligations of the DIA alternatives for the council for Sierra Madre’s street programs, including the Revenue caused by a decline in Sales, Income, improvements including, including responsibility for both the Final Map Extension salaries for the city’s street crews. Banking and Corporation taxes. Hardest hit (partial listing) a Grading Plan, all improvements installed and the DIA Extension. The Local governments have been very concerned will be schools - $5.7 billion. The budget also Landscaping Plan, Fencing whether by the previous owner council may either grant that the state assembly and senate would cure includes deep cuts in services for seniors and or not; the recommendations with the deficit by cutting off funds. The state the infirmed.Staff/MV News - Photo courtesy Plan, Erosion Control Plan, Street Improvement Plan, 2. Payment of an outstanding the conditions as submitted; plan to withhold property tax revenue “was Office of the Governor security of $110,000; grant the extensions without already taken into account when the 2009- Storm Drain Improvement Plan and Water and Sewer System 3. Provide updated bonds for conditions; or deny the requests. through the CUP process. Downtown Overlay Zone Repealed Public Peace, Morals 2. A new section has been and Welfare Ordinance By Susan Henderson added requiring a CUP for new Requirements For Conditional Use Permits Eased The second reading of a City construction, additions and Ordinance that will address the For many current Sierra Madre Madreans passed Measure V which CUP process and initially asked alterations. Changes (interior or costs of loud parties, gatherings and business owners who were protected the downtown area from to pay substantial fees for the right exterior) that don’t expand the floor events will be on the Sierra Madre considering moving to another structures that exceeded 2 stories, to move their businesses. While area or increase activity would not council agenda Tuesday, July 28th. location in town, the nightmare is 30 feet in height, and 13 units per those businesses chose to stay in be subject to a CUP. The ordinance, if passed, will over. acre without a vote of the residents. Sierra Madre and appeal to City establish a Police Service Fee and And while Measure V addresses Hall, other businesses who were 3. The minimum lot area changes an Administrative Fee that will For businesses that want to come issues of the design of buildings in considering Sierra Madre as their from one acre (43,560 sq. ft.) to 3,750 be assessed for multiple responses to Sierra Madre, the doors have just the downtown area, the issue of ‘use’ home may have been discouraged. square feet (original minimum size). against the person responsible and been opened wider. remained a problem. includes the owners of the property, The Sierra Madre Chamber of 4. A plant screen is required to the tenants of the property and the After months of discussion, the The DOZ revised the list of Commerce was an outspoken critic obsure off street parking from view organizers of the party or gathering. Council approved the repeal of permitted businesses in the of the DOZ and hailed its’ repeal as which was the standard prior to the The Ordinance calls for the issuance the infamous ‘Downtown Overlay downtown area and required the a victory for the continued stability adoption of the DOZ. of a warning which indicates that if Zone’ (DOZ) in an effort to police are required to respond again issuance of a Conditional Use of Downtown Sierra Madre. 5. The standards and incentives for within the next 12 hours, the fees encourage business development in Permit for businesses either not Sierra Madre. With the repeal of the DOZ, the city mixed-use were removed because of will be assessed. on the list or for businesses that conflicts with Measure V. In the event the responsible party moved from one location to another will revert to the previous standards The Ordinance, enacted in for downtown development with the is a minor, the parents or guardians 2005, was designed to “prevent within the city. The cost to business It appears that the changes are in will be held responsible. owners could have been as high as some significant changes: (partial the best interest of the public and development under the existing listing) commercial zone guidelines while $3,000.00. for the good of the general welfare of Sierra Madre. A healthy business the Downtown Specific Plan was Recently, a spa and a beauty shop 1. The list of permitted and under development”, according to conditionally permitted businesses environment is key to the continued Inside that had been doing business in success of the downtown area. a presentation made to citizens in Sierra Madre for years, each wanted has been updated. Spas, Beauty 2006. and/or Barber Shops, for instance, Strong retail sales helps generate This to move to another location. Each revenue for the city. Since that time, the Sierra was required to go through the will no longer be required to go Week... SAVE THE DATE: 4th Annual Wine & Jazz Walk benefiting NEWS the City of Hope Presented by PASADENA Page 4 Riboli Family Wine Estates/San Antonio Winery ALTADENA Page 4 October 3rd 4-7 p.m. ARCADIA Page 3 Downtown Sierra Madre MONROVIA Page 3 Tickets: $35 pre-sale and $40 day of event New**San Antonio Winery Wine Garden SIERRA MADRE Page 1 Kersting Court 6-8p.m. Stroll the streets of Sierra Madre FEATURES Visit participating businesses for a taste of wine & Calendar & Arts Page 2 local cuisine Listen to live jazz, Public Safety Page 5 Leisurely sit, sip wine & sample food in the wine Education & Youth Page 6 garden Opinion Page 7 surrounded by friends and great music! Legals Page 8 Join the merchants of Sierra Madre in the continuing Page 9 fight against cancer! Members of the Arcadia Chamber of Commerce showed support Good Food & Drink Page 10 For more information please call 626-355-0024 Thursday for the extension of the Gold Line to Azusa by asking the The World Around Us Page 11 or visit Metropolitan Transit Authority to fast track the project. A new Arcadia The Good Life Page 12 www.sierramadrewineandjazzwalk.com station at First Avenue and Santa Clara Street is planned as part of the Homes & Property Page 13 extension.