VOLUME 7 NO 5

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2013

The Planning Commission will 
be holding a public hearing to 
consider amendments to the R-1 
Single Family Residential Zoning 
Ordinance regarding various 
definitions (attic, habitable attic 
space, bedroom, driveway, floor area, 
flag lot, and front lot line), permitted 
uses, setbacks, building floor area 
calculation, height, and parking, 
among other development standards. 
The Commission is also considering 
amendments to the Parking 
Ordinance regarding the number of 
spaces required, tandem parking, and 
pavement of parking areas. 

Some of the major proposed 
amendments include:

• Revisions to the calculation 
of allowable building floor area to 
include all structures covered by a 
solid roof, with some exceptions such 
as front porches, fully submerged 
basements, roof eaves up to 4 feet in 
projection, and some attic areas.
• New angle plane height limit 
along the side yard to minimize the 
impact of second story structures to 
neighboring homes.
• Three on-site parking spaces 
required for homes with 5 bedrooms 
or more.
• Inclusion of flood control 
easement areas in the computation 
of lot area, for purposes of calculating 
the maximum allowable building 
floor area. 
• Bedroom to be defined as 
any room capable of being used as 
sleeping quarters in a customary 
manner.
• Restricting storage of 
recreational vehicles (RVs), trailers, 
and boats within the front 25 feet of 
a property. 
• Requirement for minimum 
percentage of landscaping in the front 
yard area.


The Planning Commission meeting 
will be held on February 7, 2013, 
at 7:00 p.m., in the City Council 
Chambers at the Sierra Madre City 
Hall located at 232 West Sierra Madre 
Blvd. The meeting is open to the 
public and there will be opportunities 
to make comments. 

Information regarding the draft 
amendments is available on 
the Development Services page 
on the City’s website at www.
cityofsierramadre.com, at the 
Development Services counter at City 
Hall, and at the City’s Library. If you 
have any questions, please contact the 
Development Services Department at 
(626) 355-7138. 

PLANNING COMMISSION TO CONSIDER 
AMENDMENTS TO R-1 SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL 
DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS

SPECIAL JOINT MEETING

SIERRA MADRE CITY COUNCIL

PASADENA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

6:30 PM

City Hall Council Chambers

232 W. Sierra Madre Boulevard

Sierra Madre, California 91024

 All Residents are encouraged to attend this meeting. The agenda includes 
discussion on the current and future status of the Upper Campus 
Construction Project; an update regarding Measure TT Bond Funds for 
Sierra Madre Schools and parking concerns at PUSD Campuses in Sierra 
Madre.

 City Councilmember John Harabedian says, “ Everyone please attend...
PUSD’s response to the Council’s inquiries regarding the status of the 
project has been less than satisfactory.

CHASE BANK ARCADIA ROBBED

 

 On Monday, January 28th at approximately 11:25 A.M., the Arcadia Police 
Department received a call of a robbery alarm at Chase. The bank is located at 
60 East Huntington Drive, in Arcadia. 

 Officers contacted bank employees, who advised that a robbery had just occurred. 
The suspect presented a demand note and then left the location with an 
undisclosed amount of money. The suspect was described as a Male, Hispanic, 
in his early thirties, and he had a black mustache. The suspect was wearing a 
black sweatshirt, black hat, and black glasses.

 The investigation is being conducted by Arcadia Police Department Detectives. 
Anyone with information is asked to call the Arcadia Police Department 
at (626) 574-5150. You can also submit crime tips and information via text, 
phone, or web to LA Regional Crime Stoppers, (800) 222-TIPS (8477).


Save The Date:

SIERRA MADRE STATE OF THE CITY 
ADDRESS

On Tuesday, February 19, 2013 from 6:30 – 7:30 pm the City of Sierra Madre 
will host its 3rd Annual State of the City Address at the Community Recreation 
Center in the Sierra Madre Room at 611 East Sierra Madre Boulevard. 

This year’s theme is “Finding the Right Balance” and this event will highlight 
programs and services the City has provided over the past year and give residents 
insight to the City’s goals for the next fiscal year.

WISTARIA FESTIVAL SHUTTLE TICKETS TO 
GO ON SALE FEBRUARY 15TH

The Sierra Madre Chamber of Commerce announced on Friday that shuttle 
tickets to ride up to view the Wistaria Vine at its annual Wistaria Festival will be 
available for purchase on February 15th. . The 2013 Wistaria Festival will take 
place on March 17th, 2013.

The Wistaria Festival features tours of the world’s largest blossoming plant, 
certified as such by the Guinness Book of World Records. Each year, the 
property owners upon whose land the vine sits open their property to allow 
thousands to view the vine. Dozens of Sierra Madre residents volunteer to act 
as docents at the property, telling the story of the vine, which was originally 
planted from a 1-gallon pot that was purchased for $0.75 in 1894. At its peak, 
the vine covered more than an acre of ground, and in the early 20th century was 
so large that it even destroyed a home that was under it.

In addition to the tours of the vine, the two main downtown streets of Sierra 
Madre are closed to traffic so that as many as 175 juried crafters and artists can 
set up booths to display and sell their arts/crafts. Downtown village shops are 
open, and more than a dozen musical acts perform at multiple outdoor venues. 
Memorial Park is transformed into 
a combination Kids/Food zone, as 
bouncy houses, slides, rock climbing 
and other kids attractions set up in 
the park alongside food vendors, both 
for profit and non-profit alike.

The shuttle to the vine from 
downtown avoids a long uphill walk 
from downtown to the neighborhood 
in which the vine sits. “Day of” 
tickets for the shuttle are $15 this year, 
and pre-sale tickets are $12. Also this 
year seniors (over 65) and children 
(6 to 16) receive a discounted rate of 
$7. Children under five ride for free. 
There is no charge to view the vine.

You will be able to order tickets online 
or at various retailers throughout the 
city.

March 17, 2013March 17, 2013• 
Sierra 
Madre Wistaria Festival 
•• 
Sierra 
Madre Wistaria Festival 
•
GROW YOUR OWN VITAMINS................................Page 5

This Week’s Highlights: 

Calendar Page 2

Sierra Madre News Page 3

Pasadena/Altadena Page 4

Around San Gabriel Valley Page 5

Looking Up Page 5

Arcadia Page 6

Monrovia/Duarte Page 7

Education and Youth Page 8

Good Food & Drink Page 9

Best Friends Page 10 

Arts/Health Page 11

The Good Life Page 12

Homes & Property Page 13

Business Today/Sports Page 14 

Left Turn/Right Turn Page 15

Opinion Page 15

Legal Notices Page 16-19

FYI Page 20

AROUND SG Valley

SIERRA MADRE NEWS

5

3

Facility Attendant Training

ARCADIA NEWS

6

PASADENA/ALTADENA

4

MONROVIA/DUARTE

7

More arrests made in shooting