 |
(Mod: The following email blast went out from Preserve Sierra Madre recently. I thought I should post it here as well. As is usually the case in this town, there are a number of things that most everyone should be concerned about. Overdevelopment and mansionization always need to be at the top of that list. It's where the money is.)
Dear Supporters:
We first want to take a moment to congratulate Mayor Capoccia and Councilman Harabedian on their re-election to the City Council. They were integral members of a City Council that accomplished the following:
1. Passed the building and water meter moratoriums.
2. Approved the new General Plan
3. Improved the R-1 Zoning codes to limit mansionization
4. Passed a demolition ordinance protecting older homes
5. Denied the first house proposed for One Carter/Stonegate
6. Saved the "Henry A. Darling" house - a 1906 Craftsman - from demolition
These were huge steps that advanced the cause of preserving our "Village of the Foothills." We are hopeful they will continue those efforts in their new term.
(Mod: A big concern should be the temptation to monetize Sierra Madre's remaining few open spaces in order to pay down some of the immense debt the city is carrying right now. In particular that $9 million dollar shortfall in CalPERS exposure. The folks who want to develop the lands attached to the Mater Dolorosa Monastery have repeatedly brought up the potential windfall in development impact fees and property taxes the city would realize by allowing them to build a 45 unit mini-mansion redoubt there. Let's hope both Capoccia and Harabedian, along with the rest of the City Council, can continue to resist the temptation all of that money must be presenting to them. Especially the Two Johns since neither will have to face the voters again.)
We also want to remind ourselves that we have to remain vigilant. In our particular area, one of the adverse consequences of over-development is to exacerbate an existing drought. Despite the recent rains, the front page of the Pasadena Star News has an article explaining that the drought may actually get worse. The link to that article can be found at:
http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/environment-and-nature/20160414/goodbye-el-nino-hello-la-nina-the-diva-of-drought
Thank you for your support.
Steering Committee
Preserve Sierra Madre
(Mod: Here is a portion of that Star News article.)
(You can read the rest of this important article by clickinghere.)
sierramadretattler.blogspot.com