SIERRA MADRE EDITION


SATURDAY, MARCH 4, 2017 

VOLUME 11 NO. 9


SIERRA MADRE PLANNING COMMISSION HAS 
HEFTY AGENDA FOR NEXT MEETING

The next Planning Commission meeting is 
scheduled for Thursday, March 16, 2017 at 7:00 
pm. That will be 3 days after the retirement of 
current city manager Elaine Aguilar and 3 days 
into the tenure of the incoming city manager, Gabe 
Engeland. Nevertheless, the commission will not 
have time to notice as they are faced with making 
important decisions on projects that could change 
the character of the village of Sierra Madre forever.

In one of Aguilar's final City Manager reports she 
lists some of the critical items on the commissions 
next agenda:

126 East Mira Monte Avenue

The Planning Commission is scheduled to review 
Discretionary Demolition Permit 16-01 for 126 
East Mira Monte Avenue. This property, formerly 
known as the Henry Darling House is at the heart 
of a controversy regarding historical preservation 
and individual homeowners rights.

General Plan Amendment and Zone Change

The Planning Commission will conduct a public 
hearing to consider the following: 1) a General 
Plan Amendment (GPA) to change the land use 
designation of Assessor’s Parcel Number 5762-
010-014 from H (Hillside) to NOS (Natural Open 
Space) and a zone change to change the zoning 
designation from HMZ (Hillside Management 
Zone) to OS (Open Space); 2) a General Plan 
Amendment (GPA) to change the land use 
designation of Assessor’s Parcel Number 5762-
011-903 from H (Hillside ) to NOS (Natural 
Open Space) and a zone change to change 
the zoning designation from R-1(One Family 
Residential) to OS (Open Space), and 3) a General 
Plan Amendment (GPA) to change the land use 
designation of Assessor’s Parcel Number 5763-
001-003 from NOS (Natural Open Space) to H 
(Hillside).

 The purpose of the General Plan amendments 
is to correct the land use designation of the 
abovementioned parcels in the 2015 General Plan 
Land Use Map to match the existing use or existing 
development limitations on these parcels, and 
the corresponding zone change is to make their 
zoning designation consistent with the General 
Plan land use designation, as required by law.



City Solar Project Initial Study and Mitigated 
Negative Declaration

The Commission will also consider a City of Sierra 
Madre Solar Project consisting of constructing 
approximately 11 photovoltaic (PV) arrays at 611 
East Sierra Madre Boulevard (aquatics center and 
spreading basins), and one PV array at 232 West 
Sierra Madre Boulevard (City Hall parking lot). 
The PV system would be installed on elevated 
structures in a shed configuration measuring 8-12 
feet in height. The combined total footprint of the 
PV system would be approximately 50,300 square 
feet and is broken down by each site as follows:

 City Hall: One array covering approximately 5,400 square feet.

 

 Aquatics Center: Three arrays covering approximately 6,600 square feet.

 

 Spreading Basins: Eight arrays covering approximately 38,300 square feet.

An initial Environmental Study and Mitigated 
Negative Declaration were prepared for the 
project and a 30-day public comment period was 
published beginning February 1, 2017 through 
March 2, 2017. The Planning Commission will 
continue to take public testimony at the March 16, 
2017 public hearing. 

Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) and 
the installation of the photovoltaic arrays at the 
referenced sites. The City Council is tentatively 
scheduled to review the Project at the March 28, 
2017 City Council meeting.

STONEGATE

The Planning and Community Preservation 
Department is continuing to review the resubmitted 
applications for Hillside Development Permits and 
Conditional Use Permits for properties within the 
Stonegate development. The Department received 
resubmittals the week of May 9, 2016 consisting of 
Lots 7, 21, and 22, resubmittals the week of June 6, 
2016 for Lots 1 and 2, and resubmittals the week 
of August 1, 2016 for lots 16, 17, 19, 25, and 26. A 
submittal for Lot 23 was received on September 15, 
2016. The plans are in various stages of review by 
staff to determine if the applications are complete 
and to confirm if staff comments were addressed 
since the last submittal prior to being scheduled 
before the Planning Commission at a noticed 
public hearing.

CODE ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITY

The Code Enforcement Division has 32 ongoing 
cases at various stages of enforcement regarding 
various public nuisances or other violations of the 
Municipal Code. Staff opened 16 new cases in the 
month of February and closed 13 cases during the 
same reporting period, receiving compliance from 
property owners and contractors conducting work 
without permits and without a business license.

In her report, Aguilar also gives a detailed 
breakdown of the Planning and Community 
Preservation Department "which is currently 
processing 42 development applications.

You can learn more about these projects by going 
to the city's website at: http://cityofsierramadre.
com.


The 2017 Huck Finn Fishing Derby and Family Campout registration started Monday, February 27th and will 
continue until the Monday before the Derby. Registration must be made in person at City Hall and will close Monday, 
March 20th at 5:00 pm.

- Friday, March 24, starting at 5:00pm, Campsites, $60, includes Fishing Derby Contest Entries for four youths.

- Saturday, March 25, 7:00am to 11:30am, Fishing Derby Entries for ages 3-15, $13 per youth. 

- Family Fishing, $23 for family of four. Saturday, March 25-12:30pm to 4:00pm and Sunday, March 26-7:00am to 
1:00pm 

Questions, please contact Sierra Madre Community Services Staff: 

Tim Shepard or Clarissa Lowe (626) 355-7135 or email at tshepard@
cityofsierramadre.com or 

clowe@cityofsierramadre.com

The 2017 Huck Finn Fishing Derby and Camp Out is proudly 
sponsored by:

Sierra Madre Firefighters’ Association

Sierra Madre Civic Club

Sierra Madre Kiwanis

ISSEI Foundation

Danny Osti Tree Service, The Sierra Madre Women’s Club, and the Sierra Madre Community Foundation.

DON'T MISS THE ANNUAL HUCK FINN FISHING DERBY