SPECIAL WISTERIA FESTIVAL EDITION...Section B

 
SATURDAY, MARCH 18, 2023 

VOLUME 17 NO. 11VOLUME 17 NO. 11

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THANK YOU FOR YOUR 36 
YEARS OF SERVICE RICH


At Tuesday's City Council Meeting, Retired Sierra Madre Fire Captain Rich 
Snyder was given a grand send-off. The Council Chamber was filled with 
Family, Friends, and former co-workers from near and far. LA County Supervisor 
Kathryn Barger (shown above with Rich), personally bestowed upon him a 
Commendation from the LA County Board of Supervisors. You can read more 
about Rich's storied career with SMFD which began as a volunteer by going to: 
http://mtnviewsnews.com/v16/htm/n53/index.htm ................Photo by Dirk Bolle

ALVERNO RESPONDS TO NOISE CONCERNS IN APPELLATE CLAIM

By Kevin McGuire/MVNews

In December 2022, the 
Planning Commission 
approved a Conditional 
Use Permit (CUP) for Alverno 
Heights Academy 
(AHA), paving the way for 
the school’s construction 
and demolition plans. The 
Commission also approved 
an Addendum to the Mitigating 
Negative Declaration 
to update AHA’s, Master 
Plan. 

However, this plan hit a 
snag after residents filed an 
appeal to revoke these approvals 
made by the Planning 
Commission.

The appellants, Kristin and 
Keith Stephens appeared 
before the City Council on 
February 14, 2023, alongside 
their attorney, Jason 
Sanders, for a hearing on 
the matter. Sanders's accusations 
were that the Planning 
Commission “erred 
and abused its discretion in 
approving the project and 
that the application failed 
to meet qualifications and 
standards outlined in the 
Municipal Code and other 
applicable law.” In addition, 
the Appeal letter cited 
“land use” and “noise” 
concerns. The City Attorney, 
Aleks Giragosian, 
addressed all issues in a 
Memorandum response to 
the Appeal letter. 

The meeting was continued 
until the March 14, 
2023, City Council meeting 
to allow time for AHA's 
rebuttal of the legal claims 
against them.

Alverno’s Plans

On February 22, 2023, 
AHA announced that due 
to low admission numbers, 
the Catholic, all-girl high 
school would close effective 
June 2, 2023. With that 
in mind, adjustments had 
to be made to earlier construction 
and demolition 
plans. 

AHA’s Lower School currently 
houses the Co-ed, 
TK through 8th-grade 
classes. There are plans to 
expand admissions to the 
Lower School and utilize 
the Upper School space, 
now occupied by the high 
school. The current enrollment 
at the Lower School is 
253 students. AHA hopes 
to increase to 275 students 
and reserve the remaining 
student capacity of 125 
students for a future high 
school. Therefore, AHA’s 
maximum enrollment remains 
at 400 students. 

The Plans

• Changes to Upper 
School Buildings. A
1,200-square-foot art classroom 
expansion to the existing 
visual/performing
arts building. The existing
Cottage is also planned to
be converted into a flexible
classroom building. 

• Demolish the Existing 
Upper School Faculty 
Office Building. The
existing 1,915-square-foot
faculty office building will
be demolished to accommodate 
a new faculty surface 
parking lot consisting
of 31 parking stalls. The
high school facility will
remain. 

• Build a Multipurpose 
Building. A two-story
building is to be located on
the western part of campus. 
The approved building 
siting consisted of a
combination gymnasium, 
auditorium, and performing 
arts facility for worship 
services, athletic events, 
and school plays and productions. 
This building 
was intended to be 12,860 
square feet, large enough 
to hold the entire student 
body under one roof.

• Temporary sports
court. Until a permanent
facility is constructed,
AHA would like a temporary 
area for sporting
events on the Michillinda.

• Parking Facilities.
The Michillinda parking
area would accommodate

CONTINUED ON PAGE 5


InSIDE THIS WEEK

Sierra Madre News

Pages 1,3,4

CONVERSATIONS

Page 5

Pasadena/Altadena

Page 6

So. Pas./San Marino

Page 7

Arcadia/Monrovia/
Duarte News

Page 8

Around San Gabriel 
Valley

Peter Dills

Page 9

Shop Local Page 10

Best Friends Page 11

Good Life.... Page 12

Education & Youth 

Page 13

SIERRA MADRE 
WISTARIA 
FESTIVAL

INFO

 Section B

HISTORY OF THE 

WISTARIA VINE

by

Phyllis Chapman

Page B2

OPINION

Page B3

 

LEGAL NOTICES

Page B-4

GLENDORA $720,500 
3 beds 2 baths 1,179 sf Home.
FONTANA $625,000Triplex with 3, 2 Bed, 1 Bath Units.
Total Sf of appx 2,484 sf.
PASADENA $1,135,000 
3 beds 1.5 baths 1,730 sf626.355.1451c21village.comLIC# 02119245Serving the Community since 1980FOR SALESOLDSOLD