Alice Sarkisian Wessen

Altadena Community Garden Picnic and Mount Lowe Military Academy Reunion

FLYER IS HERE: Download Annual picnic flyer 2009

Altadena Town Council Land Use Committee Current Projects 2009

LAND USE COMMITTEE CURRENT PROJECTS
Regional Planning Cases Filed report 20090630
File updated 20090707

NEWER CASES FILED – TO BE PROCESSED BY COUNTY
1.    2501 Maiden Ln (CT4601) – Barela/Sund
Applicant: Shahe Garabedian
CUP2251 filed 06/16/2009 – R1-7500 – TBD
CUP Modification to original CUP 2251 for Armenian Christian School.  Change condition #11 which restricts play area away from grass lawn along Mariposa.  Modification request to allow for play area within previously restricted lawn area.

PENDING CASES FOR LAND USE COMMITTEE HEARING
2.    2189 N Lake Ave (CT4602) – Ezieme/Fuller
Applicant: Abdul J Muhammad
R2008-01200 filed 04/07/2009 –C3 – ZP2 – Jeantine
To authorize a PKP for a reduction in parking to fast food take out only restaurant. 20 year lease agreement with neighboring property included. See minor parking deviation/site plan request for more details (original submission denied due to opposition; this is a new submission).
07/07/2009    Reassigned planner in May.  Not yet scheduled for RPC hearing.

3.    1207 Morada Place (CT4612) – Cheng/Edwards – FOLLOW UP
Applicant: Not listed
R2007-03167 filed 11/24/2008 – R1-7500 – ZP1 Anita Gutierrez
To authorize modification of the Altadena CSD for rear (5 ft) and side (5 ft) yard setbacks for a second dwelling unit, located in the R1-7500 zone.
07/07/2009    Planner has instructed applicant to contact LUC for hearing.

4.    3406 Fair Oaks Ave (CT4602) – Ezemie/Fuller – FOLLOW UP
Applicant: AT&T Mobility
R2008-01986 filed 10/29/2008 – R1-10000 – ZP2 – Diane Aranda
Unmanned WTF.
07/07/2009    LUC hearing 07/07/2009. RPC Public Hearing scheduled for 08/16/2009.

5.    2489 E Washington Blvd, Pas (CT4613) – Goldman/Marcussen – FOLLOW UP
Applicant: Levon Khandjian
R2005-00682 filed 10/21/2008 – C3 – Counter – Doug Chastaine
Parking Deviation.  1) Existing 640.50 sq. ft. unit "B" to be new take-out restaurant. 2) Existing 418.50 sq. ft. unit "C" to be new deli. 3) Existing 391.50
sq. ft. unit "D" to be new meat processing/kitchen. Providing only 11 parking spaces on site.
04/07/2009    Site plan and business license applications approved
05/05/2009    Parking Deviation application still open
07/07/2009    Denied; appealed to RPC; no recent activity

6.    205 E Palm St (CT4602) – Ezieme/Fuller – FOLLOW UP
Applicant: Sahag Mesrob Armenian Christian School
R2008-00985 filed 05/28/2008 – R1-7500 – ZP1 Anita Gutierrez
CUP #R200800095
Proposal to use existing building for a Private School from grades nursery through 12th grade.  No new construction is proposed.
05/05/2009    In court

7.    349 W Altadena Dr (CT4603.01) – Bridwell/Stanton – FOLLOW UP
Applicant: T-Mobile
R2008-00738 filed 04/22/2008 – R1-7500 – ZP2 Philip Estes
CUP #R200800079
Renewal for WTF.
11/26/2008    Waiting on owner info
07/07/2009    No response from applicant

8.    La Vina – address TBD (CT4603.01) – Bridwell/Stanton – WAITING
Applicant: CAI Holdings LLC
TR069504 filed 05/23/2007 – R1-10000 – Alejandrina Baldwin (Subdivisions)
CUP #T200700114
Proposing 20 SFR lots (tract map) with CUP & Plan Amendment to change the current Specific Plan category from S-R (School use) to SF (SFR) and proposing recreation use.  14 permits tied to project.
12/02/2008    Subdivisions reviewed 06/02/08; awaiting revisions.

9.    2920 Zane Grey Terrace (CT4601) – Barela/Sund – WAITING
Applicant: Hovsep J and Arsha Demerjian
PM065656 filed 04/19/2006 – R1-7500 – Joshua Huntington (Subdivisions)
Two lot subdivision. The existing single family residence and detached garage is to remain.
08/27/2007    Subdivisions reviewed July 2006.  Awaiting revisions.
10/29/2008    Subdivisions reviewed revisions 03/18/08; more revisions submitted 6/30/08 and then 08/18/08; extension granted till 08/24/09
12/02/2008    Awaiting revisions.

10.    3572 Canyon Ridge Dr (CT4603.01) – Bridwell/Stanton – JUNE 2009 ITEM
Applicant: Singer, Daniel
PM064462 Filed 03/23/2006 – R1-10000 – Jodie Sackett (Subdivisions)
4 lot subdivision, encroachment on 1 oak tree.
08/27/2007: Applicant submitted revised info in May 2007.  Went to Subdivisions Subcommittee in June 2007.  Waiting on additional information from applicant.
10/29/2008: Revisions submitted 03/17/2008; Subdivisions reviewed 04/21/08; extension granted till 04/27/09.
12/02/2008: Awaiting revisions.

 

No new cases:
200905
200903
200902
200901
200812
200809
200808

Note: Name after project/map number refers to assigned County Planner or Subdivision Dept staff.  If only a department is listed, the project has not yet been assigned to a particular staffer.

PROJECT NUMBER HAS R200#-##### FORMAT.  CUP numbers have no hyphen.

SEE WEBSITE FOR UPDATED LIST OF REGIONAL PLANNING CONTACTS.

MAIN LINE: 213 974 6411
Press 3 for a planner

213 974 6443    Zoning Permits 1    Mark Child, head
        Mary Mention
        Anita Gutierrez
213 974 6435    Zoning Permits 2    Maria Masis, head
        Phillip Estes
        Jeantine Nazar
        Dianne Aranda
213 974 6434        Tyler Montgomery
213 974 6470        Larry Jaramillo
213 974 4808    Special Projects    Sam Dea, head
213 974 6433    Subdivision Dept    Susie Tae, head
        Alejandrina Baldwin
        Jodie Sackett
213 974 0889    Info/Fiscal Services    Dennis Slavin, Asst Admin – IT contact

Dial 211    Zoning Enforcement    Jeff LeMue

213 974 6393    Planning Counter    Mike Contreras – extremely helpful for
        case status updates

CLOSED FRIDAYS

Proposed Cell Tower at Lincoln Water Company, 3406 Fair Oaks Ave, Altadena

From the emails I have gotten, there is a strong desire to get better cellular coverage. But it is balanced with concern for the impact on the community.

I share so folks can make an informed a decision as possible. Know that there will be another Land Use meeting with this cell tower issue Aug 4th, 2009 at 7PM
PDF Documents from applicant are here: Download Lincolncell

•    In Altadena, 375 emergency 911 calls had been made, and 75% were dropped.
•    There are few places in northwest Altadena that are not heavily residential.
•    Overwhelmingly the public comment has been that folks want better cellular coverage.
•    With the IPhone using AT&T, there is more demand for AT&T.
•    AT&T likes 25-30 year leases.
•    There is a possibility that this will be a co-location tower, meaning that AT&T would combine with T-Mobile.
•    It costs about $100,000 to put up a cell site.
•    Construction takes 3 weeks or less.
•    AT&T currently has a 1,000 site project.
•    There are three different methods of construction.
    o     The first is called stealth, in which the cell tower is disguised as a tree (This is the method that is proposed for Lincoln Water).
    o    The second is concealment, in which the cell tower is hidden in the architecture of a building (Pasadena prefers this method).
    o    The third method is the construction of the cell tower in plain view.

Notes from Land Use:
Mr. Ambrosini is the consultant representing AT&T and gave a summary of the project.
He explained that there is very poor coverage for both AT&T and T-Mobile in that area.
The location was strategically chosen to not overlap with other towers in the area and to
fit the uses in the area. T-Mobile will co-locate on the monopine and be the second
carrier on the tower. The applicant provided an electronic copy of the CUP application at
the meeting.

Member Goldschmidt asked how many carriers could be co-located on a tower. The
applicant explained that the height of the tower determines how many carriers can be colocated.

With the 65’ height limit set by the County for our area, only two carriers could
be co-located. MetroPCS could possibly sit below the two carriers due to its different
technology.

Member Sund asked whether the applicant is open to any other sites in the area. The
applicant stated that this application is for this particular site. After doing much research,
this site is the most optimal of the properties that are available for leasing. Member Sund
asked for clarification as to exactly where on the site the monopine would be located and
the applicant pointed it out on the old simulations distributed via email.

Member Sund stated he would only support an approval where the applicant will be
prohibited from using barbed wire on the project.

Member Wessen stated that she needs to have a full set of documentation before making
a decision because the plans have been changed since the version distributed via email
before the meeting to Members.

Member Fuller asked whether reception would be improved significantly by the tower for
T-Mobile and the applicant replied yes.

Member Ezieme stated he had met with the applicant beforehand and that he was alarmed
by the number of dropped 911 emergency calls currently at 350 so the tower would be a
welcome means to alleviate such a problem. However, the materials distributed are
outdated since the plans are different. He also commented that he inquired with the
applicant regarding the health issues of the EMF radiation and that given the distance of
the transmitters, the health risk is minimal He reiterated that it would have been more
helpful had the applicant come with a more robust presentation.

Member Cheng read the original resolution barring the ATC from approving future cell
phone towers. The Committee agreed that the next steps to take would be to hear cell
phone projects and still make recommendations to the ATC. The ATC can take steps to
rescind the resolution that automatically denies all cell tower projects, and make
recommendations on future cell tower projects.

Member Wessen stated she hopes the Committee does review these cell phone tower
projects and provide feedback since these towers definitely impact our community and
provide communications safety especially being a high fire hazard zone.

Member Goldman stated she would have recused herself from a vote since AT&T is a
client of hers.
================= 
Note Land Use delayed any action until applicant brings in current paperwork.
Next Land use is Tuesday Aug. 4th at the Altadena Community Center.