Mountain Views News          Saturday, March 16, 2013

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Mountain Views-News Saturday, March 16, 2013 

City of Sierra Madre

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

From: The City of Sierra Madre

Subject: 2008-2014 Housing Element, including General Plan Amendment (GPA 13-01 A, B, 

 and C), Municipal Code Text Amendment (MCTA 13-01) and Zone Change No. 13-01 

Applicant: City of Sierra Madre

Project Location: Properties in the City of Sierra Madre, County of Los Angeles, State of California

The City of Sierra Madre gives notice, pursuant to State of California law, that the Planning Commission will conduct a 
public hearing to consider a General Plan Amendment (GPA 13-01A) to adopt the 2008-2014 Housing Element, which is 
a State mandated General Plan element. The Housing Element must be updated pursuant to California Government Code 
Section 65588 for the 2008-2014 planning period. Implementation of the new Housing Element requires two additional 
GPAs (13-01B) to adopt a new Land Use Category RH1 (Residential High Density, up to 20 dwelling units/acre), and 
GPA 13-01C to change the Land Use designation of property located at 271-293 Mariposa Avenue from RH (Residential 
Medium/High Density, up to 13 dwelling units/acre) to RH1 (Residential High Density, up to 20 dwelling units/acre). The 
final aspect of the project includes a Municipal Code Text Amendment (MCTA 13-01) to add a new zoning category R-3H 
(Multiple Family Residential High) and a Zone Change (ZC 13-01) to rezone 271-293 Mariposa Avenue from R-3 to R-3H. 

DATE AND TIME OF HEARING PLACE OF HEARING

City of Sierra Madre City of Sierra Madre

Planning Commission meeting City Council Chambers

Thursday, April 18, 2013 232 W. Sierra Madre Blvd.

(Hearing begins at 7:00 p.m.) Sierra Madre, CA 

All interested persons may attend this meeting and the Planning Commission will hear them with respect thereto.

ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION: The project qualifies for a Negative Declaration pursuant to the provisions of 
the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The Initial Study/Negative Declaration document and Draft 2008-2014 
Housing Element are available for review at the Development Services front counter, the Sierra Madre Library, and on the 
City’s website (under the Development Services page) at www.cityofsierramadre.com. The public comment period for the 
Initial Study/Negative Declaration ends on April 15, 2013. 

APPEAL: The decision of the Planning Commission is subject to a 10-day appeal period to the City Council. If in the future 
anyone wishes to challenge the decision of the Planning Commission in court, one may be limited to raising the issues that 
were raised or presented in written correspondence delivered to the Planning Commission at, or before, the scheduled public 
hearing. For further information on this subject, please contact the Development Services Department at (626) 355-7138.

REMEMBRANCES

CHRISTOPHER R. LALONE

Christopher R. LaLone of Sierra Madre passed 
away on March 16, 2013 from cancer at the 
age of 62. He was at home under hospice care 
and the comfort center and the comfort of this 
family.

Christopher was born September 7, 1951 at 
St. Luke Hospital in Pasadena, Ca. to Earl and 
Margaret LaLone. He was preceded in death 
by his father Earl LaLone, who passed away in 
February, 2012. Christopher is survived by his 
mother Margaret, sister Marsha, son Philip 
and daughter Melissa.

Chris worked for various medical device 
and infusion therapy companies in the Los 
Angeles, Orange County areas as a corporate 
executive. His 25 years of senior management 
experience helped him develop new business 
ventures from startups to nationally recognized organizations.

He attended Sierra Madre Elementary, Pasadena High School and Pasadena City College. He was a 
recent member of the Arcadia Elks Lodge.

Chris enjoyed his “Orchid Camp”, photography, and making stained glass windows and objects of art. 
He loved playing his Ovation guitar and recently a harmonica. His harmonica skills were excellent 
while Chris kept wanting to improve. He loved the local Sierra Madre bands and worked diligently 
to sit in on some sets.

Chris would make annual trips to Blue Lake and he and cousin Ron LaLone would routinely provide 
their special music to patrons of the Likely Saloon, Modoc County, California.

Chris was an avid trout fisherman and spent most summers and fall at June Lake Loop, camping and 
fishing with family and friends.

Christopher Robin will be missed and never forgotten. We all loved his joke telling, music and wit, 
“Happy trails to you – until we meet again.”

The family will only have a private graveside service at Sierra Madre Cemetary.


City of Sierra Madre

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

From: The City of Sierra Madre

Subject: MUNICIPAL CODE TEXT AMENDMENT 12-03 (MCTA 12-03) 

Applicant: City of Sierra Madre

Project Location: Properties in the City of Sierra Madre, County of Los Angeles, State of California

The City of Sierra Madre gives notice, pursuant to State of California law, that the City Council will conduct a public 
hearing to consider an Ordinance amending the development standards for single-family residences in the City. The 
following chapters of the Municipal Code are proposed to be amended: 1) Chapter 17.20 (“R-1 One Family Residential 
Zone”) regarding various definitions (attic, habitable attic space, bedroom, driveway, gross and net floor area, flag lot, and 
front lot line), permitted uses, floor area calculation, setbacks, building floor area calculation, height, and parking, among 
others; and 2) Chapter 17.68 (“Parking”) regarding parking requirements, tandem parking, and pavement of parking areas 
associated with single-family residential uses subject to R-1 development standards. At their meeting on March 7, 2013, 
the Planning Commission recommended approval of MCTA 12-03 to the City Council. 

DATE AND TIME OF HEARING PLACE OF HEARING

City of Sierra Madre City of Sierra Madre

City Council meeting City Council Chambers

Tuesday, March 26, 2013 232 W. Sierra Madre Blvd.

(Hearing begins at 6:30 p.m.) Sierra Madre, CA 

All interested persons may attend this meeting and the City Council will hear them with respect thereto.

ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION: The project qualifies for a Negative Declaration pursuant to the provisions of 
the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). 

APPEAL: If in the future anyone wishes to challenge the decision of the City Council in court, one may be limited to raising 
the issues that were raised or presented in written correspondence delivered to the City Council at, or before, the scheduled 
public hearing. For further information on this subject, please contact the Development Services Department at (626) 355-
7135.


WILLIAM (BILL) FRANCIS BIRGENSMITH

Born August 6, 1930 in Stanton, Virginia in the Shannon Valley, he 
died on February 12, 2013. 

Bill attended public schools in Stanton – Stonewall Jackson primary, 
Thomas Jefferson Grammar School and Robert E. Lee High School

During the Korean War, Bill enlisted in the United States Air Force 
and was appointed to Electronics School at Lowry Air Base in 
Denver, Colorado. There Bill studied gun laying for the famous F-86 
Saberjet.

Bill took advanced classes in AP6-30 gun laying from the fighters. 
He was then transferred to Okinawa. There he was assigned to Naha, 
Okinawa where he was attached to the 4th All Weather Interceptor 
Squadron.

In June of 1972, Bill volunteered for Korea at Taque. After this he 
was transferred to Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas to teach gun 
laying to fighter pilots going to combat.

While in Las Vegas he finished his 4 year service. After his tour of 
duty in 1955, he married Ester R. Davis and they moved to California. 
Their daughter Virginia Susan was born on October 21, 1955.

Bill was employed at Transformer Engineers, then by CEC until 1968. In 1968 Bill became owner of 
Union Oil 76 in Sierra Madre retiring in 1997.

During his retirement, he enjoyed working in his garage on bird houses, model airplanes and with his 
two cats for company.

Bill expired after several months of illness on February 12, 2013.

He is survived by his daughter Virginia and friend Joyce Wilcox.

Sierra Madre Police Blotter

 
For the period March 4-10, 2013

Monday March 4, 2013

The owner of the pharmacy located on North Baldwin Avenue reported that an attempt entry was 
made over the weekend. Pry marks were found on the rear door but entry was not accomplished. 
A week earlier, the surveillance camera that monitored this area had been removed by unknown 
individuals. 

Tuesday March 5, 2013

At approximately 2pm, an unknown suspect broke into a vehicle parked in the Bailey Canyon Parking 
lot by smashing a side window. Small items that had been left on the passenger seats were removed 
and the suspect departed without being seen. 

At approximately 3pm an unknown suspect broke into a vehicle parked in the recreation center 
parking lot at 611 E. Sierra Madre Boulevard. The suspect smashed the right side window of the 
vehicle, entered and removed property from the front passenger seat. Later that day, the victim was 
alerted that an unknown suspect used her credit cards at two locations in the City of Arcadia. 

Between the hours of 8:30am and 2pm, an unknown suspect entered a residence in the 00 block 
of West Grandview Avenue through the unlocked front door. The suspect removed jewelry from a 
jewelry box in the master bedroom but left the rest of the residence undisturbed. The suspect left the 
residence using the front door, leaving it open as he departed.