Mountain Views News, Combined Edition Saturday, October 29, 2022

4

CONVERSATIONS....THE MEADOWS

Mountain View News Saturday, October 29, 2022 

 
KNOW THE FACTS AND 
VOTE YES ON 

MEASURE HR 

Despite ongoing efforts and tens of 
thousands of dollars aggressively being 
spent by the out-of-town developer, 
New Urban West, to confuse and 
misinform us, there are many 

Sierra Madre residents who want to 
know the truth so they can vote in the best 
interests of the community they love. 

Rather than let the facts speak for themselves 
and let the light shine on the Meadows tract 

housing development - so we can actually see 
what it looks like – Sierra Madre is being 

bombarded with multiple, costly mailers designed 
to confuse voters and muck up a sincere 
effort for residents to learn the truth and 
vote accordingly. 

When you don’t have the facts on your side 
and hide behind shiny mailings, it looks like 
you are too ashamed to show the community 
what your project looks like and instead try to 

divert their attention by flooding their homes 
with slick graphics, falsehoods andimprobable 
outcomes. New Urban West thinks it 
best to hide behind a veiled smokescreen of 
marketing designed to trick and fool you into 
believing that tract housing is best for us.

Let’s take a breather from all this nonsense 
and restate the facts about what is allowed 
and what is not allowed under Measure HR. 

Measure HR is simple. It changes the present 

zoning for the 35-acre Monastery parcel from 
Institutional to Hillside Residential. It means 

that institutional development, i.e., schools, 
retirement centers, hospitals, etc., is no longer 

permitted; residential homes on two acres 
each is permitted. Now, to dispel some of the 

gross misrepresentations pushed by the 
developer: 

FACT ONE: Under Measure HR, nobody can 
build 68 mansions on the Monastery parcel. 

Measure HR allows for one home up to 6500 
square feet on a two acre lot. This means that 

in place of the 42 tract homes to be built under 
the Specific Plan, just 7 homes could be built 
on these 17 acres. If the entire 35 Acres was 
sold, only 15 to 16 houses of a maximum size 
of 6,500 square feet could be built under Hillside 
zoning. Under the current Institutional 

zoning, a developer can build a 270,000 
square-foot institution such as a school or 

residential housing unit in addition to “The 
Meadows” project of 42 houses. If the city 
were to grant them a new specific plan in 
addition to the one that has already been 
approved for the bottom tract, a developer 
could build an additional 82 houses. There 
have been all kinds of extreme hypotheticals 
bandied about to spread confusion, including 
crazed lot-splitting and ADUs run amok; but, 
realistically, we’re talking about the prospect 
of the developer’s 124 tract houses under their 
Specific Plan versus 15 or 16 houses on the 35-
acre parcel under Hillside Residential zoning. 

FACT TWO: Ads and flyers paid for by the 
developer state that, under Hillside zoning, 
the Passionists will be prevented from continuing 
their mission. This is totally false. 
The Passionists are protected by the Religious 
Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act 

(RLIUPA) as well as Section 17.60.030 (A) of 
our municipal code that clearly states 

“Churches, temples and other places of worship” 
are uses that are permitted in the Hillside 
Management Zone. As a result, there is 
no restriction on the Passionists’ mission. 
Just like everybody else in town, they will 
need a building permit if they want to make 
additions or build new buildings—that’s all. 
The only difference under Hillside zoning 
is that the Mater Dolorosa Retreat Center 
will be designated as a non-conforming use, 
which means they will need a different type 
of permit. There is no reason on God’s green 
Earth that the city of Sierra Madre would not 
grant them that permit.

FACT THREE: The developer falsely claims 
that Hillside zoning circumvents Sierra 
Madre’s existing checks and balances. Nothing 
could be further from the truth……from 
a developer whose Specific Plan disregards 
our carefully written General Plan and zoning 
ordinances. If we citizens allow them to 
get away with it, their houses will be up to 
80% larger on a given lot size than the city’s 
General Plan and building codes allow. The 
bottom line is, other property owners—the 
people who actually live here—like you and 
me, can’t build oversized houses on little lots 
even if we want to, but New Urban West of 
Santa Monica can and will if we don’t stop 
them, setting a dangerous precedent for future 
projects. 

Don’t be fooled by the endless stream of confusing, 
misguided, inaccurate, false information 
coming your way. The real citizen 
groups opposed to this project don’t have the 
$143,000 that the developer has funneled so 
far into pushing this project. The real citizen 
groups have only the facts on their side and 
would like to issue the following simple challenge 
to the developer: 

 If you stop telling lies about the project, we’ll 
stop telling the truth about the project. 

Vote YES On Measure HR

MEASURE HR Q&A

Is Measure HR the Meadows project?

Measure HR is an initiative by three neighbors to rezone the entire Monastery property to the Hillside 
Residential zone, making the existing Retreat Center and Stations of the Cross non-conforming uses. HR 
states that its intent is to allow continued operation "without expansion, significant physical alteration, 
or change in use." The Hillside Residential zone allows up to 68 units on the entire property, and some 
number of mansions up to 6,500 sq. ft.

The Meadows project, which was recommended by the planning commission and unanimously approved 
by the City Council, is a plan to build 42 homes averaging 3500 sq. ft. on the southern half of the property. 
It includes a $5 million 3-acre park, 40 hillside acres in conservancy, almost $1 million to offset water use, 
and $250,000 for public safety infrastructure.

What does it mean to vote Yes or No on Measure HR?

A yes vote on HR will rezone the entire property to the Hillside Residential zone, which would stop the 
Meadows project but allow larger homes to be built with none of the concessions like the 3-acrk, etc. It 
would turn the existing structures into non-conforming uses likely leading to a lawsuit against the city. A 
no vote on HR would allow the Meadows project to be built as approved by the city council.

What do the Passionists want?

The Passionists, who have owned the property for 100 years, are intent on selling some of the property for 
development. Their preferred solution is the Meadows project. The Passionists have stated that if Measure 
HR turns their Retreat Center and the Stations of the Cross into a non-conforming uses they will pursue 
legal options to restore their rights under the federal Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons 
Act. If the property is rezoned Hillside Residential, the Passionists' headquarters in Chicago could also 
decide to sell the entire property to a developer of mansions and leave Sierra Madre.

What was the lawsuit against the city about?

In the argument against Measure HR the city council used the phrase "a developer" from the city attorney's 
report. Since it would take more than "one" developer to build the 68 units the judge removed that phrase. 
The petitioner requested that the number of units be reduced from 68 to 34, but the judge refused since 68 
units could be built if HR passes.

Who is funding each side?

Sierra Madre Neighbors for Fairness has partnered with the developer to protect the rights of the Passionists. 
We have not been promoting the Meadows project other than as an approved project being the best 
way to protect the rights of the Passionists. The Yes on HR side is funded by a GoFundMe campaign and 
there is also a dark pool PAC called Citizens for Better Government out of Norwalk that is actively promoting 
yes on HR. No one has claimed responsibility for this group so it is unknown if it is a developer hoping 
to build mansions under the Hillside Residential zone or someone with unknown intentions.

What type of homes can be built?

Under Measure HR there is minimal design oversight as long as it fits within the objective zoning standards 
and within the 6,500 sq. ft. limit. The Meadows project homes will be a mix of single and two stories 
averaging 3,500 sq. ft. with four different styles: craftsman, farmhouse, Spanish, and modern. No two 
homes will be the same on any given street. Renderings are available at:

www.sierramadreneighborsforfairness.org

NO LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

STILL CONFUSED? HR WILL CHANGE THE ENTIRE MATER DOLOROSA 
PROPERTY ZONE FROM INSTITUTIONAL TO HILLSIDE RESIDENTIAL INCLUDING 
WHERE THE RETREAT CENTER IS LOCATED: 

The City Council unanimously voted NO on HR

After open public meetings and consultation with 
the City Attorney, the City council determined 
that Measure HR is against the best interest of the 
entire City of Sierra Madre.

The Passionists are 100% against HR

Measure HR places the Retreat Center and Stations 
of the Cross into a non-conforming use. This 
prevents them from expansion or change in use. It 
prevents them, as a landowner from applying for a 
change in zoning through the legal City process.

No on HR will protect the Monastery grounds

Measure HR takes away the Institutional Zoning 
of the property and places it into Hillside Residential, 
thus negating any other religious activity

No on HR will create a 3 acre park

Mater Dolorosa has contributed 3 acres of their 
property to be developed into a City Park. Measure 
HR will prohibit those 3 acres to be used as 
a park.

No on HR will place 40 hillside acres in conservancy

Measure HR will take away the proposed 40 acres 
conservancy that is currently approved by the 
Planning Commission and City Council

No on HR will stop 6,500 sq. ft. Mansions

Hillside Residential will allow up to 6,500 sq. ft. 
mansions to be built plus the proponents of HR 
have neglected to acknowledge that State mandates 
will allow lot splits, ADUs (Granny Flats) and residential 
add-ons to existing houses.

No on HR protects the integrity of the Planning 
Commission

The City Planning Commission after many public 
meetings and discussions and hours of study has 
recommended the zone change, and general plan 
change for the proposed development applied for 
by the Passionists. Measure HR questions the integrity 
of the City to make such a decision.

Leading members of the community urge you to

Vote NO on HR

Former Mayors and Council Members, Past Commission 
Members, Volunteers, Members of the 
General Plan Sub-Committees, Volunteer Fire 
Fighters, and a vast number of prominent Sierra 
Madre Citizens all are against Measure HR and 
what it stands for – taking away the rights of an 
individual property owner. They are voting No on 
HR

Pat Alcorn, No on HR

YES LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

SEEMS LIKE GROUNDHOG DAY

 One must wonder what is in it for the 
City Council to not only approve the Meadows 
project but also each member display a No on 
Measure HR sign on their property. Several 
Planning Commissioners are also displaying 
the No sign. We would think this would at the 
very least be poor judgment on their part. We 
know that the Meadows project is not yet a fait 
accompli. The zoning change was approved in 
two hastily scheduled meetings of the Council, 
within a one-week period, in order to accomplish 
this. The Environmental Impact Report 
was also approved, without any probing questions. 
But, there are several loose ends that the 
Planning Commission and the City Council 
will have to rule on – New Urban West Developer 
promised to reveal which houses will 
go on which plot of land once the Meadows is 
approved. There are no pictures, and the actual 
pictures of their huge crammed together 
developments in other cities have been taken 
down from their website. 

 One of the other loose ends is that 
pesky (to NUW) matter of the widening of the 
narrow, sidewalk-less Carter Avenue. There is 
still no plan to get County approval to widen 
the street, or to cut down the projected 17 trees 
in Bailey Canyon to do so. What is truly frightening 
is that both the Planning Commission 
and City Council have made their intentions 
absolutely clear before even discussing these 
issues that will affect all of us. 

 Meanwhile, the developer New Urban 
West has now spent over $150,000 just in the 
last three months to try to confuse the residents. 
They are saying that to stop the mansionization 
of the Monastery property you 
must vote No on Measure HR, when just the 
opposite is true. Measure HR will allow only 
7 large homes on two acres of land. Even with 
a lot split – now one acre, and 14 large homes, 
it still is vastly different from 42 homes on 17 
acres, set 10 feet apart, smaller setbacks than 
our zoning codes allow. We’ve mentioned in 
several articles – this is Measure V all over 
again. The building industry spent over 
$180,000 telling us of the dire consequences 
if we allow our downtown to prohibit three 
story condo units.

 The difference, though, is that there 
is a Memorandum of Understanding between 
the developer and the City Manager Gabe 
Engeland, approved by City Council, in the 
height of the pandemic - 

“Indemnification. The Applicant shall defend, 
indemnify and hold harmless the City 
and its agents, officers and employees from 
and against all claims, costs, penalties, causes 
of action, demands, losses and liability of any 
nature, whatsoever, caused by or arising out 
of or related to any alleged negligent act omission 
of the City, its officers or employees or 
any other agent acting pursuant to the City’s 
control arising from, related to, or regarding 
this MOU or the Project.”

 In other words, if we residents want 
to sue, the developer will use even more of its 
deep pockets to defend any lawsuits. They, on 
the other hand, have threatened over and over 
to sue – just like those who lost the Measure V 
fight, and the One Carter developer. 

Deb Sheridan, Citizens For Truth

HR LEADS TO BAD OUTCOMES

I am an author and retired litigator and have been 
a homeowner and HOA Board member in Sierra 
Madre since 2009. I am also a member of Sierra 
Madre CERT. I am voting NO on HR and want 
to share a couple of reasons why I oppose the 
initiative. 

The initiative seeks to outlaw any institutional 
expansion of the Monastery property ever, and 
to restrict residential development to large parcels. 
Some HR backers believe that the restrictions 
would make development impossible and that the 
Passionists would simply comply with the restrictions 
on their use of the property. Under HR they 
believe that the status quo would become permanent. 
That is one view, however misguided.

Other proponents of HR, such as the former developer 
who lives near the property and the drafters 
of the initiative, know that is not true. They know 
that under HR as many as 68 units, many of which 
are 6500 square foot mansions, could eventually 
be built on the property. This fact has been litigated 
and confirmed by a Judge of the Los Angeles 
County Superior Court.

What would happen if HR passes? Maybe the Passionists 
would simply comply, as painful and humiliating 
as that would be for them.

Or maybe they would sell the entire property and 
let the chips fall where they may. We could get up 
to 68 houses, many of them huge mansions, all 
with minimal city oversight. I’m curious whether 
there are some interests associated with HR such 
as developers, financiers and others who might 
find that outcome an attractive opportunity.

Or maybe a government entity like the State of 
California would get involved and require high-
density low-income housing. 

Or, if HR passes, the Passionists, as pointed out by 
the City Attorney, could choose to sue the city for 
violation of their 1st Amendment right to practice 
their religion as codified under the federal Religious 
Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act. 

The Passionists would claim they are being singled 
out to prevent expansion of their ministries and 
discriminated against. They have been mocked 
and belittled by more than a few of the initiative 
supporters. The record of Measure HR is filled 
with evidence of invective and of the hatred and 
enmity many of the initiative proponents harbor 
toward the Passionists. This evidence already supports 
a finding of malice and has the potential to 
result in a runaway verdict.

As a former litigator for 41 years, which included 
civil rights and land use litigation, I suggest this 
path exposes the city’s taxpayers to unnecessary 
risk and terrible outcomes. Please reject the HR 
scheme.

John Doyle, Sierra Madre

DEMAND ZONING FAIRNESS

If you, the reader, or I, or any property owner in Sierra Madre owned the lower seventeen acres 
of the monastery land, we would be prohibited from developing this land as The Meadows 
project. Why? Because we would have been zoned Hillside Management years ago when the 
city updated property use ordinances. At that time there was a unique carve-out in town and 
that was for the current owner of the seventeen acres. And because of this situation, we are 
about to allow the largest tract home development in our history. The argument of property 
rights is a misdirection. The property owner has had an unfair advantage compared to us, 
all of the other Sierra Madre property owners. We would have been constrained to subdividing 
into seven parcels, not forty-two for The Meadows. Measure HR will simply and clearly 
amend the error of the past. Don’t let this be the moment in our town’s history when future 
citizens look back and ask, “What were they thinking?” This is what we ask now when driving 
by the many apartment buildings built around the 1970s. What were THEY thinking? Vote 
YES on HR.

Jeff Lapides


I’LL TRY TO KEEP THIS SHORT

 I have lived in Sierra Madre since 1957--longer 
than many who are arguing about the Meadows 
project. I recall then a patchwork of houses and 
empty lots. Family homes gradually filled in the 
plots of bare dirt,adding to the heart of a wonderful 
town.

 Over the years, the Passionists of Mater Dolorosa 
had a popular Annual Fiesta to raise funds, and their 
lower acreage was filled with cars. As times changed 
and families sought other entertainment, the Fiesta 
and a need for parking eventually ended. Had it not 
been for the necessity to retain this land solely for 
such use, family homes would have completed the 
area long ago, continuing to knit the fabric of our 
community. 

 The time for that to happen has now come. The 
Passionists have done Everything possible to assure 
that the project is a beneficial, well-planned one. 
Years of reviews, meetings and proper approvals 
have taken place. The homes fit in well with the sizes 
of adjacent properties.

 A small group of citizens, however, have seen this 
vacant land for so long that they will do anything to 
stop that from changing. They have twisted simple 
facts into convoluted knots to sow confusion and 
achieve their aim. They have written long, complicated 
articles that are laced with false and hateful assumptions. 
They used these tactics to convince residents 
to sign their petition, and that is why we are 
now faced with Measure HR. This Measure is so ill-
conceived that it won't even achieve what they claim, 
but instead will be harmful on many levels in the 
future. Please vote NO on this misguided deception.

 Finally, as the opponents find things aren't going 
their way, they are now trying to collect signatures 
to overturn the City Council's decisions. This stoops 
to a sad new low by essentially saying that ALL of 
the qualified, elected and dedicated Council members 
are wrong. Please just send the petition people 
away when they desperately try and

get you to sign. William Cosso

Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com