Mountain Views News, Combined Edition Saturday, October 15, 2022

MEASURE HR - YES OR NO?Mountain View News Saturday, October 15, 2022 4 MEASURE HR - YES OR NO?Mountain View News Saturday, October 15, 2022 4 
SIERRA MADRE CITY GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION - MEASURE HR 

Shall the general plan land use designation change from "Institutional" to "Hillside" and the zoning 
designation change from "Institutional" to "Hillside Management" for the Mater Dolorosa Property? 

CITY ATTORNEY'S IMPARTIAL ANALYSIS 
OF MEASURE HR 
Measure HR would amend the City of Sierra Madre General 
Plan land use map and zoning map designations forthe Mater Dolorosa Property, thereby changing its development 
potential. 
The Congregation of the Passion, Mater Dolorosa Community 
(“Congregation”), is a California charitablecorporation. The Congregation operates the Mater Dolorosa 
Passionist Retreat Center (“Retreat Center”) andowns the parcels located at 700 North Sunnyside Avenue 
in Sierra Madre (APN: 5761-002-008). The property iscommonly known as “the Monastery” or “the Mater Dolorosa 
Property.” 
Any development at the Mater Dolorosa Property is governed 
by the City of Sierra Madre’s General Plan andZoning Code. The General Plan is a comprehensive, 
long-term plan for development. The Zoning Code is adetailed set of land use regulations that must be consistent 
with the General Plan. Both the General Plan and 
the Zoning Code have associated maps that assign a land 
use or zoning designation to each parcel in the City. 
Currently, the Mater Dolorosa Property has a General 
Plan land use and zoning designation of “Institutional.” 
Residential uses are limited in the Institutional Zone. Single-
family homes are prohibited. Communal residentialfacilities are allowed with a conditional use permit and 
master plan amendment approved by the City’s PlanningCommission after a public hearing. 
Measure HR would change the Mater Dolorosa Property’s 
General Plan land use designation to “ResidentialLow Density – Hillside” and zoning designation to “Hillside 
Management.” Residential uses are permitted inthe Hillside Management Zone. Under state law, single-
family homes, duplexes, and accessory dwelling unitsare allowed with a permit approved ministerially and 
without a public hearing by the Director of Planning andCommunity Preservation. 
Measure HR does not amend the General Plan land use 
or zoning designation for any other property owner inthe City. Only the Mater Dolorosa Property, and any sub 
divisions of the Mater Dolorosa Property created afterJanuary 25, 2022, would be affected. The existing Retreat 
Center would be converted into a non-conforminguse. As such, it may be maintained and repaired, but under 
the Zoning Code, it is unclear whether the RetreatCenter could be altered or enlarged. To develop a new 
religious use, the Congregation would need to apply for 
a Hillside Development Permit. Based on these facts, 
Measure HR may be vulnerable to a legal challenge underthe Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons 
Act. 
Measure HR was placed on the ballot by initiative petition 
that was signed by a legally sufficient number ofregistered voters of the City. To be adopted, Measure HR 
must be approved by a simple majority of the ballotscast in this election. A “yes” vote on Measure HR approves 
the Measure. A “no” vote on Measure HR opposesthe Measure. 
ALEKS R. GIRAGOSIAN 
City Attorney 

ARGUMENT IN FAVOR OF MEASURE HR (YES) 

Sierra Madre has spent decades refining our General Plan and Ordinances, to protect 
the character of our small town. Our Open Space and Hillside Ordinances protect 
sensitive ecosystems in parcels near the San Gabriel Mountains, all areas within a Very 
High Fire Hazard Severity Zone. 

EVERY LARGE PARCEL IN SIERRA MADRE ABUTTING THE SAN GABRIEL 
MOUNTAINS IS PROTECTED BY EITHER OUR HILLSIDE OR OPEN SPACE 
ORDINANCES - WITH ONE EXCEPTION -THE PARCEL OWNED BY MATER 
DOLOROSA. 

Because that parcel was never included in our protective ordinances, Mater Dolorosa 
is now applying to build,with special rules for ONLY their property. Their proposed 
Specific Plan would allow larger single family homes than are allowed on similarly 
sized lots under our ordinances and would remove over 100 mature trees including 
protected species. 

Our Initiative will rezone the property to Hillside, to include the same protections 
that Sierra Madre has already put on the many rezoned parcels abutting and near the 
mountains. 

Our Hillside Ordinance allows building, including for religious purposes. But all development 
would be according to the standards of Sierra Madre's Hillside ordinance. 

IF the Meadows housing project was built, the remaining 27 acres would stay zoned 
institutional. If the Illinois Diocese that owns the parcel chooses to sell that land, an institutional 
building, a school, hospital or retirement facility, could be built on the site. 

Under our code, that building could be 25-33 feet high and up to 70 percent ofthe site could be developed. That large facility would be IN ADDITION to the 42 large 
houses of the Meadows. 

We believe that the citizens of Sierra Madre know best what is right for their City and 
will vote to protect that property, as others have been protected, by being rezoned to 
Hillside Zone. 

VOTE YES ON MEASURE HR 

BARBARA VELLTURO 
Steering Committee PAC 

ALEXANDER ARRIETA 
Steering Committee PAC 

GARY BACIO 
Steering Committee PAC 

REBUTTAL TO ARGUMENT 
AGAINST MEASURE HR 

VOTE YES ON MEASURE HR! 
Don't let the City Council scare you or fool you: this initiative gives you, the voters, 
the power to decide what happens at Mater Dolorosa and block their 42-unit special 
plan that doesn't follow the same rules that apply to other hillside properties. 

The 68 units they threaten is a lie. Only a homeowner who agrees to live in a home 
for three years can even apply for an SB9 lot split. Without an SB9 lot split, only 34 
homes on two acre lots could be built - on the entire parcel. And that would still 
require the City to approve a subdivision request. No developer can build 68 unitswith limited review. Don't be fooled. 

Any buildings must comply with Sierra Madre's zoning ordinances which have 
strict requirements for Hillside zones. These laws have significant protections and 
restrictions. 

Measure HR takes the only large parcel abutting the mountains that is not zoned Hillside 
or Open Space and makes it follow the same rules that other Hillside properties 
do. By targeting the one property, the Initiative makes our city's zoning consistent. 

The Planning Commission, City Council, and citizens have always supported the 
Hillside Ordinance and its values in our General Plan and Ordinances. Measure HR 
reflects those values of preserving and protecting our hillside lands. 

Measure HR allows Mater Dolorosa to continue operating and make necessary 
changes, while protecting our hillsides in the event of future development. 

Don't let fear and misleading arguments deter you from voting the right way. 

VOTE YES ON MEASURE HR! 

BARBARA VELLTURO 

ALEXANDER ARRIETA 

GARY BACIO 

ARGUMENT AGAINST MEASURE HR (NO) 

Vote "No" on HR. This ill-conceived initiative is a potential disaster for our town. Do 
we want 6,500 square foot mansions smack dab in the middle of a residential neighborhood 
of three-to-four-bedroom single family homes? 

With the recent change in state law, SB 9, as many as 68 units ultimately could be built 
with limited design approval by the City. 

Is this what we consider the "look and character" of our Village of the Foothills?
The initiative would bypass what the people proposed in the General Plan. It would 
circumvent the zoning recognized by the City Council, reflecting the will of the people. 

The initiative would re-designate the ENTIRE 38 acres, including the Mater Dolorosa 
Retreat Center, as "nonconforming" and restrict any modifications, additions, or 
changes to the Center. Is it our intent to limit what private owners can do to their own 
property? 

The initiative identifies property of ONE sole owner. Does that not target one private 
property owner? 

At a time when our city is fiscally healthy and master plans are in motion to improve 
infrastructure, sidewalks,community services, public safety, and the library -does it 
make sense to expose the city to uncertain and possibly significant financial consequences 
of potential legal action? 

Are the proponents of the initiative the informed voice of the people? Is it possible 
they themselves were not aware of the potential consequences of this initiative as they 
rushed to collect signatures on the petition? 

It's unanimous. All five of your elected representatives on the Sierra Madre City Council 
believe the responsible thing to do is to vote "No" on this poorly designed Measure 
HR. We want what's best for the people in our community, what's best for property 
owners, and what's best for Sierra Madre. 

Mayor Gene Goss and Council Member Rachelle Arizmendi 

GENE GOSS RACHELLE ARIZMENDI 
Mayor City Council Member 

EDWARD T. GARCIA KELLY KRIEBS 
Mayor Pro Tempore City Council Member 

ROBERT PARKHURST 
City Council Member 

REBUTTAL TO ARGUMENT IN 
FAVOR OF MEASURE HR 

Measure HR is misleading and misguided. Its proponents would lead you to believe 
that a change in the zoning

to Hillside Zoning would preserve the property as open space. It's a stunt that we, 

as residents, will not fall for.
Many Sierra Madreans would prefer the Meadows property remain open space. 

But the measure, if passed, does

NOT prevent the private property owners from building. In fact, developers can 

build immense MANSIONsized homes that do not fit the character of Sierra 
Madre, and THEN allow homeowners to split the lots 


resulting in as many as 68 units! Passing the measure would be absurd and 

irresponsible.
Under the current institutional zoning designation, Mater Dolorosa, owners of this 

private property, could have

built a large hospital, or a massive retirement facility, but they have stated publicly 
that such development would

not fit the Residential Zoning in the neighborhoods surrounding all sides of the 

property. Would the construction

of 6,500 square foot - sized homes be compatible with those neighborhoods? The 
answer is obvious: NO. 

The measure unfairly restricts the owner's private property rights. It would be in


credibly foolish to put our Cityin a legal predicament that could cost us for years down the road.

Our "Village of the Foothills" is the jewel of the San Gabriel Valley, a town in which 

its citizens take 
tremendous pride. Don't let this Measure take that away from us. 

ALL FIVE ELECTED MEMBERS OF YOUR CITY COUNCIL URGE YOU TO 
VOTE NO ON MEASURE HR. 

RACHELLE ARIZMENDI 

City Council Member 

ROBERT PARKHURST 

City Council Member 

GENE GOSS 

Mayor 

KELLY KRIEBS 

City Council Member 

EDWARD T. GARCIA 

Mayor Pro Tem 

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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