Support Your Local Businesses


SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2014

VOLUME 8 NO. 48


COUNCIL UNANIMOUSLY REJECTS 
PLANNING COMMISSIONÕS APPROVAL OF 
STONEGATE APPLICATION By Susan Henderson

 Residents Fill Council 
Chambers To Protest 
Ratification Of Planning 
CommissionÕs Actions

On Tuesday, Sierra 
Madre Mayor John 
Harabedian, Mayor Pro 
Tem John Capoccia and 
Councilpersons Gene Goss 
and Denise Delmar were 
all in agreement that the 
Planning CommissionÕs 
approval of the 3,125 sq. ft., 
two story single family home 
proposed for 610 Baldwin 
Court in the Stonegate 
Development,formerly 
known as 1 Carter, was not 
acceptable. (Councilman 
Rachelle Arizmendi had to 
recuse herself to avoid any 
conflict of interest. She lives 
within 300 ft of the project.)

The matter was on the 
agenda at the request of 
Delmar and Capoccia, who, 
at the last meeting made 
a formal request that the 
application come before the 
council for review. 

The council chamber was 
filled with concerned 
residents opposed to the 
project. Eighteen people 
spoke against the Planning 
CommissionÕs actions and 
implored the council to 
overturn the commissionÕs 
approval. No resident came 
forward to speak in favor of 
the project.

Interim Development 
Services Director Letisha 
Cordosa reviewed the 
project for the council 
showing comparisons 
of what the scope of the 
original application was 
(a proposal for a 4,000+ 
sq. ft. structure), and the 
size (3,125 sq. ft.) that the 
commission approved. The 
approval was for a structure 
that is approximately 25% 
smaller.

Representing the owner 
of the lot were Architect 
Adele Chang and Attorney 
Richard McDonald who 
both appeared to be very 
frustrated when 
they realized that 
the council would 
not be sanctioning 
the project Tuesday 
night.

At issue primarily 
is the size of the 
project in relation 
to the size of the 
lot. There was also a notable 
amount of discussion on 
the impact of the height of 
the proposed structure to 
the view of other homes. 

In the end, the council 
decided not to support the 
Planning CommissionÕs 
decision. Mayor 
Harabedian asked for 
volunteers to work with 
the developer to come up 
with a satisfactory solution 
to the massing issue. 
Councilpersons Delmar 
and Goss agreed to meet 
and try to settle the massing 
and other issues. They are 
tentatively scheduled to 
meet with the developerÕs 
representatives and report 
back to the council on 
December 9th. 

And, while all of the 
speakers were polite, 
articulate, direct and to 
the point, the speaker who 
no doubt made the greatest 
indelible mark on the minds 
of everyone who heard her, 
was 91 year old Maude Ann 
Taylor. Her passionate plea 
that Sierra Madre protect 
itsÕ assets, namely its village 
character, its hillsides and 
natural beauty, moved the 
audience to a rousing show 
of support for her. Her 
words reiterated what each 
and every speaker spoke of, 
preserving Sierra Madre.


Inside this week: 

CALENDAR Pg. 2

SIERRA MADRE NEWS 
Pg. 3

PASADENA/ALTADENA

 Pg. 4

ARCADIA NEWS 

MONROVIA/DUARTE 

 Pg. 5

5 REASONS TO SHOP IN SIERRA MADRE 
THIS HOLIDAY SEASON...

 

1. Improve our local economy.

Remember that every time you spend a dollar, you are impacting 
the big picture of our hometown and contributing to community 
liveliness. Many of the small businesses you are patronizing are 
owned by someone who lives in our community. That means 
that the money you spend locally is recycled back into our local 
economy.

 

2. Generate opportunity.

Not only do locally owned businesses employ more people 
directly per dollar of revenue, they are the customers of other local 
businesses, which in turn creates an expansion of opportunities 
for local entrepreneurs.

 

3. Enrich our community.

A small business culture is the heartbeat of every thriving 
hometown. While franchises and national chain stores play 
a role in the national economy, small businesses provide an 
undeniable energy and unique sentiment that is the backbone of 
our community life.

 

4. Experience a one-of-a-kind connection.

Shopping with local business owners offers a sincere customer-
owner connection. Small business owners are experts on the 
product they create and sell; merchandise is carefully selected 
based on the customer's interests and needs, and owners will go 
the extra mile to guarantee personal attention to the customer.

 

5. Create a healthier environment.

Independent businesses build robust communities by making 
more local purchases and supporting vibrant town centers, 
which essentially reduces traffic, habitat loss, and pollution.

EDUCATION & YOUTH

 Pg. 6

FOOD & DRINK

 Pg. 7

BEST FRIENDS

 Pg. 8

HEALTHY LIFESTYLES

 Pg. 9

THE GOOD LIFE

 Pg. 10

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

 Pg. 11

SECTION B 

AROUND SGV Pg. B1

THE WORLD AROUND US

 Pg. B2

 BUSINESS NEWS Pg. B3

 OPINION Pg. B4

 LEGAL NOTICES Pg. B5

SHOP LOCAL.......

SHOP SIERRA MADRE!

THANKSGIVING RECIPES 
Pg. B9