Mountain Views News, Combined Edition Saturday, February 18, 2023

Mountain View News Saturday, February 18, 2023 4 PUBLIC NOTICES & LETTERS TO THE EDITORPUBLIC NOTICES & LETTERS TO THE EDITOR 
Mountain View News Saturday, February 18, 2023 4 PUBLIC NOTICES & LETTERS TO THE EDITORPUBLIC NOTICES & LETTERS TO THE EDITOR 
The City of Sierra Madre 
NOTICE OF ELECTION 
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a Special Municipal Election will be held in the City of Sierra Madre on Tuesday, May 9, 
2023 for voter consideration of one ballot Measure asking: 
“Shall City Council Ordinance No. 1461 approving a zoning map amendment, a specific plan, and a development agreement for 
The Meadows at Bailey Canyon project located at 700 North Sunnyside Avenue in Sierra Madre be adopted?” 
The deadline to submit a written argument is 5:00 pm on February 21, 2023 
Pursuant to California Elections Code §9282(a):
For measures placed on the ballot by petition, the persons filing an initiative petition may file a written argument in favor of the 
ordinance, and the legislative body may submit an argument against the ordinance. 
Pursuant to California Elections Code §9287:
(a) If more than one argument for or more than one argument against any city measure is submitted to the City Elections 
Official within the time prescribed, he/she shall select one of the arguments in favor and one argument against the measure for 
printing and distribution to the voters. The order for priority is: 
(1) Legislative body (City Council); 
(2) The individual voter/bona fide association of citizens or combination who are the bona fide 
sponsors or proponents (proponent is Barbara Vellturo)
(3) Bona fide association of citizens, pursuant to California Elections Code 
§9287 (b) (1) (2) (3); 
(4) Individual voters who are eligible to vote on the measure. 
The deadline to submit a written argument is 5:00 pm on February 21, 2023 
Please direct all and any inquires to the City Clerk’s Office at 
CityClerk@cityofsierramadre.com 
The polls will be open between the hours of 7:00 am and 8:00 pm. on Election Day, May 9, 2023; and for 10 days prior to Elec-
tion Day, at locations determined by the Los Angeles County Registrar Recorder’s Office. 
Posted February 17, 2023 
By: 
Laura AguilarCity ClerkElections Official 
(626) 355-7135LAguilar@cityofsierramadre.com 
Dear Editor: 

Mr. Hayes’ editorials are always interesting to read. He starts off by suggesting that 
the Meadows project has no credible argument for the development. Since when do 
private property owners need an argument for doing something on their own property 
for any reason other than desiring to do it? 

Those familiar with the Meadows project are aware of the many benefits for Sierra 
Madre other than just providing more housing, including a $5 million park, $1 
million in net-zero water offsets, $250,000 for public safety, and 40 hillside acres in 
conservancy. 

He continues about Measure HR, which would have allowed 6,500 sq. ft. Arcadia-
style mansions, saying that no one ever proposed building those mansions. While 
that’s techni-cally true, it misses the point that Measure HR did not pass so no developer 
had the op-portunity to build the type of mansions he wanted to allow. Is there 
any reason to assume they would not build as big as they could on 1 acre lots? 

With the referendum now threatening to overturn the Meadows project, the developer 
has submitted an alternative which does away with all the negotiated $7 million in 
conces-sions and replaces them with 8 additional houses. This was possible because 
the referen-dum only seeks to overturn the Specific Plan. 

The newly proposed 50-home project, referred to as the “SB 330 project”, is based on 
several California laws that allow higher density, less design review, faster processing 
times, and relaxed building standards. The additional homes are allowed by providing 
some very low-income houses which then gives whatever waivers are necessary to 
meet that higher density bonus. 

Mr. Hays doesn’t understand how SB 330 applies despite it being explained in a 12page 
letter that was available at the Feb. 7 city council meeting. Still, he still asserts 
that the city has done no research on the subject and only does whatever the developer 
tells them to do. Are we supposed to take Mr. Hayes seriously? All that matters is that 
the developer provides these homes according to state standards and then they get the 
higher density bonus. Mr. Hayes’ opinion on who can afford these homes is irrelevant. 

Lastly, he says the city would not continue negotiations after Feb 10th because the 
devel-oper won’t participate. Does he think the city can force a negotiation when the 
developer says they are done negotiating? The developer has been negotiating this 
development for over two years and they resoundingly beat Measure HR. Enough is 
enough. 

Robert Gjerde 


Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 

Fax: 626.609.3285 
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