CELEBRATING OUR PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE........Page 15 

VOLUME 15 NO. 10

SATURDAY, MARCH 6, 2021 
broker lic. #01514230 | source: CoreLogic, Freddie Mac, Bankrate 
Jan Greteman 626.975.4033 
jan@jangreteman.com 
jangreteman.com #01943630 
Judy Webb-Martin 626.688.2273 
jwmartin@dppre.com #00541631 
Katie Orth 626.688.0418 
korth@dppre.com #00942500 
We are active and doing business 
safely and successfully. Call us today 
if you are looking to buy or sell! 
Your Story. Your Home. Your Team. 
Together Stronger. 
We're still here for you! We can 
show you homes and meet with 
you over video. 
THE 
WEBB-MARTIN GROUP 
HERE’S SOME GOOD INFO 
FOR THE END OF THE YEAR OF 2020 
2019 2020 
Total # Sold: 90 111 
Average Sold Price: $1,077,815 $1,166,319 
Average Sq. Ft. 1,888 2,027 
Avg. Price Per Sq. Ft. $603 $624 
2019 2020 
Total # Sold: 21 16 
Average Sold Price: $691,444 $730,275 
Average Sq. Ft. 1,458 1,538 
Avg. Price Per Sq. Ft. $485 $481 
Single Family Homes 
Condo/ Townhomes 
SIERRA MADRE REAL ESTATE TRENDS 
This year end trend seems to be continuing, please 
reach out to any one of us to talk about your home. 
• The biggest acceleration in BOTH pricing and units was in 
the November-December time frame. 
• In units, sales almost doubled…… In 2020, 25 homes were 
sold vs 14 for the same time period in 2019. 
• During those 2 months, the average price per square foot 
went from $563 in 2019 to $640 in 2020. 
• Average price of a home in Sierra Madre went from 
$930,000 to $1,176,000. Sales price was up 26%!!! 
• This indicates that the market is HOT and sellers are 
maximizing on their investments. 
213 North Hermosa Avenue 
Sierra Madre, 91024 
3 Beds | 1.75 Baths | 1,140 sf 
Listed for: $725,000 
IN ESCROW WITH 
MULTIPLE OFFERS 
IN ESCROW WITH 
MULTIPLE OFFERS 
2221 North Marengo Avenue 
Altadena 91001 2221Marengo.com3 Beds | 2 Baths | 1,859 sf 
BEE SAFE! 

Kersting Court Besieged With Angry Bees 

Over The Weekend Photo Courtesy Cheryl Regali 

The weather in Sierra Madre was wonderful last weekend and businesses 
had a healthy measure of customers until...the Bees Came! 

According to eyewitness accounts, people began being attacked bybees that were in a Pepper Tree in Kersting Court. First reports came 
were mentioned on social media on Thursday but the agressiveness 
of the bees escalated to the point that the Sierra Madre Police were 
called. The city's Public Works Department immediately cordoned 
off the area and contacted the appropriate pest control company, however, 
before they arrived Sierra Madre resident and local Bee enthusiast, 
Brian Abernathy (pictured above), donned his protective clothing,
located the hive and eliminated the problem.

"Those were the meanest bees I have ever seen", said Abernathy. 
"They were attacking me in the courtyard on the outside of the tape".

 The bees also attacked several people in Kersting Court causing the 
closure of severral businesses such as Lucky Baldwin's and Leonora 
Moss. According to the SMFD who dispatched paramedics to the 
scene, no one was taken to the hospital, however several people were 
stung multiple times.

 According to Abernathy, the warm weather brought the bees out of 
the hives, something people will have to contend with. He noted that 
these particular bees were not of the 'endangered species'.

 Los Angeles County on its' website reminds everyone, " Bees maybe found almost everywhere in our environment busy foraging for 
food. They feed on nectar for energy and pollen to feed their young. 
There are thousands of bee species in North America and about 1500 
of them are found in California." Like other forms of life, we have to 
learn to co exist with them.

 Thomas Arnold, MD, Professor and Chairman, Department of 
Emergency Medicine, LSU Health Sciences Center says," It seems 
every family has their own secret remedy. From meat tenderizer or 
tobacco juice to vinegar or baking soda, there’s no shortage of “cures” 
out there and people who swear by them. 

In reality, these home remedies have no real scientific or medical basis. 
While most aren’t necessarily dangerous, they also aren’t particularly 
effective. Taking the right steps can minimize the typical pain, 
redness, swelling, and itching that most people suffer after a sting. For 
most people, a sting won’t cause more than pain, swelling, and redness 
right around the sting—what’s known as a local reaction. However, 
a small percentage of people are allergic to insect stings and suffer a 
much more severe and dangerous reaction. . Stings in these people 
may cause anaphylaxis and can be fatal. 
Next time you or a child receives a nasty sting, look for signs of a generalized 
allergic reaction.

 Signs of a generalized allergic reaction (Symptoms usually develop 
very quickly and may include)

A feeling of uneasiness, tingling sensations, and dizziness.

Generalized itching and hives

Swelling of the lips and tongue

Wheezing and difficulty breathing

Collapse and loss of consciousnessAnyone who has any of these symptoms should go to the emergencydepartment immediately. 
For more information go to:
https://www.merckmanuals.com/home/news/editori al/
2018/05/15/14/05/bee-stings MVNews 

RE: COVID 19 VACCINES 

Los Angeles County has added additional 
groups eligible for vaccines. The county began 
vaccinating people age 65 and older a month 
ago after they complete dvaccinations for 
healthcare workers. 

Additional information on Page 8. 

NEW COUNCIL VOTES ON POTENTIAL 
SITES FOR HOUSING ELEMENT 

By Kevin McGuire 

Every eight years, Sierra Madre goes through the arduous task of updating 
the Housing Element of the General Plan as required byCalifornia State law. The latest update is due to the state by October 15, 
2021 for approval. 

The Housing Element is an analysis of housing needs, taking into consideration 
all income levels and provides strategies for meeting those 
needs. It is a vital part of a City’s General Plan. The current period 
is from 2021-2029. The Housing Element is comprised of five major 
components. 

1. A review of the current Housing Element 
2. Assessment of current housing needs 
3. Identification of resources (land, financial and administrative)
4. Evaluation of constraints to housing
5. Housing Plan: Goals, Policy and Programs. 
Housing prices have skyrocketed to the point where professionals such 
as teachers, nurses, and public safety officers cannot afford to own a 
home in Sierra Madre. Fewer professionals in these areas impacts the 
economy so each region must do their “fair share” to accommodate 
those needs. 

On several occasions in 2020, City Staff and Karen Warner, the City’s 
housing element consult-ant, have presented City Council with an 
overview of the Housing Element process and Regional HousingNeeds Assessment (RHNA) site requirements. They also outlined 
consequences of non-compliance. 

City Staff identified seven potential sites that consist of a combination 
of Multi-Family Residential sites and sites that fall in the Measure V 
boundary which are subject to voter approval. Measure V was put in 
place to preserve Sierra Madre’s small-town character. 

Potentially suitable, multi-family sites being considered includes: 

Site 1. Mariposa parking lotsSite 2. Nine properties at 200 block W. MariposaSite 3. Five properties on W. Mariposa Post Office parcelsSite 4. Nine properties on Suffolk Ave.
Site 5. Seven properties on East MontecitoSite 6. One property at 491 W Sierra Madre.
Site 7. One property at 215 N Baldwin Ave. 

Other potential sites include Church parking lot sites around Sierra 
Madre. These options would require a vote to be eligible. 

Though the Housing Element provides recommendations on potential 
housing site, it does not require that the units be built, provide fundingfor the sites or authorize any construction on any sites. 

The Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) regions 
have been tasked with providing 1.34 million housing units across 
California during this period. This is the highest the RHNA has ever 
been. SCAG has determined Sierra Madre could produce 204 housingunits broken down to the following income levels. 

This is a RHNA increase of 270% for Sierra Madre, but still much less 
than most neighboring communities. 

During the February 23, 2021 meeting, City Council were given two 
options to vote on for the update of the Housing Element. Option A, 
which was the previous Council’s recommendation, would push for 
Sites 1-7, some falling within Measure V boundaries requiring a vote 
by the people. A 4-1 vote passed to accept Option B, the recommendation 
of the Planning Commis-sion which would designate non-Measure 
V site options 2,4,6 and 7 for R3-H 20 du/acre and R3-H 30 du/
acre and add an affordable housing overlay zone on parking areas on 
congregational land. 

These sites include portions of the parking lots of St. Rita’s, United 
Methodist Church, Old North Church and Bethany Church. Mayor 
Pro Tem, Gene Goss voted nay, expressing his desire to let the people 
vote. Goss also disapproved of the congregational site options. Once 
the updat-ed Housing Element goes to the state, the approval process 
could take up to 60 days. 

Back in December 2020, the City hosted a Community Workshop webinar 
on the Housing Ele-ment for the public where participants could 
learn more about the process, site options and pro-vide feedback. The 
full Housing Element Report is available to view on the city website at 
cityofsierramadre.com.