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| A bad beginning |
Those of us who have been around for a little bit have seen the fires, floods and mudslides, and know what the potential is for earthquake damage when one of those inevitably rolls in as well. And all of these things will happen again, some much sooner than any of us might wish. Though there are those who think a flood right about now would likely be a good thing. So I guess we need to add a "worst in a millennia drought" to that unhappy list as well. Just for good measure.
But today, because of the failed nature of the development projects there (next year will be the tenth anniversary of nothing ever getting built at One Carter), a concerted effort appears to be in the process to move these 29 so-called "luxury lots" over to unsuspecting out of area customers. With partially underground homes known as "McBunkers" being what they would be required to build upon those unhappy sites by our city government.
One reason for this is that the per lot (or "pad" if you are a land use wonk) prices are just so absurdly high. We understand the real value of these things, and there is a long history of lawsuits involved with these properties that have driven the costs so sky high.
We also know there is a clear potential for natural disasters up on that hillside. This seems quite obvious to those of us who have witnessed nature's fury at that troubled location, and understand the dangers.
So in the spirit of making sure that all are aware of the potential hazards there, while also taking into account all of the usual land use legal requirements the developers will be required to fulfill, here is the draft of a letter being prepared for the benefit of the parties now involved with the process of attempting to sell the lots at One Carter Luxury Estates. Or whatever stupid name they've given to the place lately.
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| The crossroads? |
Fr: Concerned Sierra Madre Residents
Re: 1 Carter Ave. lot sales / California State Disclosure Statements
Mr./Ms. xxxxx,
Regarding the lots that you have listed for sale, you will be required to make the following disclosures:
1 - This property has been designated by FEMA a Special Flooding Hazard Area.
2 - This property has been designated, Pursuant to Sections 51178/51179 Govt. Code: Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone.
3 - This property is designated, Pursuant to Section 4125 - Public Resources Code - Section 4291: A Wildland Area That May Contain Substantial Forest Fire Risks and Hazards.
4 - This property is designated, Pursuant to Section 2622 of the Public Resources Code as An Earthquake Fault Zone.
5 - This property is designated, Pursuant to Section 2696 of the Public Resources Code as a Seismic Hazard Zone.
6 - Et Cetera:
A) There was a murder on this property with the victim having been shot multiple times and left for dead on the site. It is also a suspected area for suicides such as the one that occurred at Bailey Canyon Park recently.
B) The One Carter area is also believed by some to be an ancient burial ground of the Tongva/Gabrielino Indian Tribe. Centuries of indigenous peoples may be buried there, and Representatives of the Tribe attended the One Carter hearings to protest development of this site. There is also the possibility of this being a "spirit vortex" according to some believers.
C) Also the upper reaches of the west and east ridge of the central canyon west of the barn/cottage were burned over in the April 2008 wildfire (link).
Another thing: Lest we forget, it was the 2004 City Council (see link) that enabled what would eventually become the One Carter debacle we see today. These micro-boffins did not take into account that those buying properties up there could soon find themselves in harm's way.
That has always seemed both inconceivable and highly irresponsible to many living in Sierra Madre. Back then and today.
It is our hope that we have now remedied this unfortunate oversight with today's Tattler post.
http://sierramadretattler.blogspot.com