CRESCENTA VALLEY TOWN COUNCIL 

Special Meeting Minutes

June 16, 2005 @ Sheriff’s Station

Called to Order:  6:04 PM

Adjourned:  6:42 PM

 

1.  Call to Order - Councilmember Lunt

Roll Call - Councilmember Andrus

Present                                                                         Absent

Councilmember Andrus                                 Councilmember Thomas
Councilmember Beatty                                  Councilmember Toyon
Councilmember Erickson                              Councilmember Williams
Councilmember Lunt                                       President Hales
Councilmember Ostler
Councilmember Raghavchary
Councilmember Rawlins
Councilmember Smiley 

2.   Katalina Klein, Real Estate Broker representing the buyer of the Anderson Property

7.75 acres, below the Pruitt property, top of Rosemont Avenue 

Proposed owner is at their 8th grade graduation and cannot attend.

Proposed owner wishes to expand school to the Anderson property.

School currently has 400 students.

Proposed owner does not have plans for the amount of students yet.

School teaches gifted students as well. 

Escrow opened three (3) weeks ago.  Currently both parties are waiting for the surveyor to layout the boundaries.  There also needs to be geological testing and reports to see if the land is able to be built upon. 

Zoned R1 now but there has to be a conditional use permit granted for a school.

 

3.   Approximately 40 residents attended the meeting.

 

4.   Questions and Comments by the Residents with answers from Ms. Klein and/or the Council:

 

How does the new owner plan to access the property?  She is purchasing easements along with the property. 

This is a private business, not a public school… why is it in a residential property?  School, public or private, can be in a private neighborhood with a conditional use permit.  Public hearing is required before the County Planning Commission.  If approved, it can be appealed before the Board of Supervisors.

 

This is a flood area, what about flood control? This is called a debris basin by Flood Control District.

 

This is inappropriate for the neighborhood.

 

Save money for the client.  The community is dead set against it.  We don’t need additional traffic to that site.

 

Question from the Broker:  Would you prefer residential homes be built, which would leave a larger imprint, over a school?  Audience: YES

 

What say does the Council have over this property?  We are to provide a forum.

 

Homeowner on Pineglen:  Heavy construction work is going on there.  What is it?  Work on a water main.

 

Does this have to have the same studies that homeowners have to go through?  Yes.

Is the potential owner aware that this is an earthquake fault zone?

 

(Councilmember Beatty-left early)

 

One resident said she was representing six other neighbors and all oppose this school development.

 

One resident announced they are setting up a website regarding this project and passed out her own sign up sheet.

 

Traffic flow on Rosemont is a problem.  There was a hit and run (two) in front of Rosemont Middle School.

 

One resident said there was an offer on the table to keep it natural.  Access is only 20 feet wide for access to water tower.  A street must be 50 feet wide.

 

One resident noted that his grandson goes to the Learning Castle everyday.  It is a zoo with traffic.  Broker said that is due to five schools being in a two block radius.

 

Residents want open space to remain.  A million five is the price.

 

Sound carries across the canyon.  It will be too noisy.

 

Where would be water go if they build there?  Build on stilts?  No answer.

 

What are the contingences?  Contingences include the loan and appraisal, reports, etc.

 

Is a grading plan necessary?  Not here.

 

5.   Comments from the Council

 

Councilmember Smiley – There are other issues that the community needs to be aware of involving schools.  This is not just use between 7 AM and 4 PM.  There are security issues, maintenance trucks, and other activities that may happen on the weekend.

 

Councilmember Raghavachary – Do we have dates of contingencies, a timeline?  Ms. Klein stated that they are pushing due to the survey not being complete.  They expect late summer.

 

Councilmember Andrus – Personal property rights are important and the hope is that the Anderson’s will receive the money they want from their property.  A parent’s right to choose the education for their child is important, although Glendale Unified School District is a great school district; therefore a private school in La Crescenta is welcomed.  However, due to the amount of traffic on Rosemont from the Middle School and Monte Vista Elementary, this is not a good location.  The residents between Rosemont and Briggs are literally stuck in their homes twice a day five days a week.  If they try to access Briggs, they also face the Mountain Avenue traffic.  Staggering opening and closing times will not help except to make the traffic issues last longer.  Currently there are 400 students in the school.  If we estimate 200 students on this campus and they all ride with siblings, there would be 100 additional cars driving up and down Rosemont twice a day.  This is unacceptable. 

 

Councilmember Erickson – There appears to be a maximum of 7-8 homes that can be built on the property.  Ms. Klein said this is only what the listing agent stated.  The current owners are not the local Anderson’s but these Anderson’s are from Canada.  Councilmember Erickson will recommend a letter to Supervisor Antonovich.

 

6.   Last Comments from Audience

 Who is paying for the reports?  Survey will be paid by the seller.

 We cannot cut up any more mountains.