The Montecito Heights Local Issues Committee of the Arroy Seco Neighborhood Council met at 7:00 PM, Thursday, July 12 at the Senior Center, 4545 Homer Street.  Here are the Agenda and Minutes:

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MEETING AGENDA

Montecito Heights Senior Center
4545 Homer Street
Los Angeles, CA 90031

Thursday, July 12, 2007
7:00 p.m.

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AGENDA

1. Call to Order, Roll Call and Welcoming Remarks

2. Order of Agenda and Timing

3. Public Comments (3 Minutes per speaker) Time allowing, a topic raised may be added to the agenda for longer discussion.

4. Development presentation: Regarding the 14 lots adjacent to Debs Park behind the northeast corner of Sinova and Latrobe.

5. *Action item:* The Department of Recreation and Parks will host a meeting regarding the triangle between the northbound Arroyo Seco Parkway ramp and Avenue 43 at 6:30 on Monday, July 16 at the Montecito Heights Senior Center, 4545 Homer Street. Jack Fenn asks adoption of the following: “By a 25-2 vote, the Montecito Heights Improvement Association voted that the site be cleaned, the native plantings be enhanced, the drip system be repaired and expanded to support new growth, and the site be maintained by Recreation and Parks. The Local Issues Committee shall support same and state so at the July 16, 2007 special meeting.”

6. *Action item:* “The Local Issues Committee asks the Department of Recreation and Parks to repair the boundary fences and gates of Debs Park to preclude passage of motorized vehicles.” Brought by Jack Fenn. If passed, also add to next ASNC agenda.

7. *Action item:* Given the presentation by Leslie Chan at the June 25 ASNC meeting, local issues committee will write a letter in support of the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority's (MRCA) effort to protect the open space in the hilltops of Northeast Los Angeles. Invite the whole ASNC to sign on as well.

MRCA will be making a presentation to the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy this fall and they are looking for a show a community support for this project. A letter can be sent to SMMC, 570 W. Avenue 26. #100. LA 90065 and emailed as backup to: planning@smmc.ca.gov

8. Discussion: Possible development attempt of large, landlocked parcel near Montecito Drive, Montecito Circle, and Debs Park.

9. Open discussion of local issues.

10. Adjournment

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MINUTES

Montecito Heights Local Issues Meeting, July 12, 2007
Montecito Heights Senior Center, 4545 Homer Street

Meeting started late at 7:20pm due to parking difficulties

Attendees:
Roy Payan
Rose Aleman
Richard Haxton
Anne Fenn
Roberta Garten
Tom Marble
Tom Williams
Elva Yanez
Martha Benedict
Scott Rubel
Douglas Jones
Ron Cargill
Don Holtz
Jim Osterling
Jack Fenn
Jean DiSabatino

Public Comments: Elva Yanez, Director Audubon Center a public service seminar Fire Prevention in Debs Park will be held on July 21 from 1pm to 2pm at the Audubon Center.

Elephant Hill won an additional Environmental Impact Review.

Presentation by Latrobe LLC:
The development of Latrobe Street by Jim Osterling and the Doug Jones Family. Doug Jones grew up on Latrobe. Jim Osterling is the Developer. Ron Cargill is contracted by LA City to deal with building issues. Don Holtz is the architect. Dave Weston, engineer, hillside engineering.

At present they are working on a Private Street Application with the city. There are 14 lots of 25’x 100’. The lots originally fronted on Ruthupham, making them a legal subdivision. The contention of the developers is that if a road is on a map but the road itself doesn’t exist, according to the Subdivision Map Act, the builder has right of access. However, the city sold half of the width of Ruthuphm to home owners along its route, thus abandoning any opportunity to build the street. Building a private road makes the subdivision legal again by providing access. The plan is to build five homes on the 14 lots. Some sites will be used for the private road and the turnaround. The private road meets all the requirements of the city; again it is made up of lots owned by the LLC.
The street is 20 feet curb to curb with an additional 2 feet on each side. The turnaround is 20 feet. There will be retaining walls to support the road, 10 feet at the highest point. This will entail the movement of 5700 cubic yards of dirt with a backfill of about 3600 cubic yards, leaving 100 to 200 truck loads of dirt to be removed. There will be no access to Sinova. The houses will not be seen from the Park. The developer and architect want to build houses in line with the neighborhood. They expressed positive views regarding native plantings, passive solar, smaller structures and more surrounding land. House designs are incomplete, but sizes will average 2500 square feet on 5000 square foot lots. The City requires a 2 car garage at an additional 400 square feet minimum.

The discussion from attendees included:
The need for an environmental review. The area is not part of the Interim Control Ordinance.
The removal of dirt and the size of the retaining walls.
The disruption of animals and animal trails through and to Debs Park.
Mansionization.

Presently, the Latrobe LLC is only at the point of getting the private road approved. This may take 6 to 9 months. Approval comes from the Subdivision Dept. of City Planning, for which there will be a public hearing. The principals are willing to come back as the plan moves forward to apprise the neighborhood of the specifics of designs and plans.

Action Item 1: Moved by Jack Fenn, seconded by Scott Rubel. Re the triangle of land between the northbound Arroyo Seco Parkway ramp and Avenue 43 as it relates to a special meeting conducted by LA City Recreation and Parks.
“By a 25-2 vote, the Montecito Heights Improvement Association voted that the site be cleaned, the native plantings be enhanced, the drip system be repaired and expanded to support new growth, and the site be maintained by Recreation and Parks. The Local Issues Committee shall support same and state so at the July 16, 2007 special meeting.”

Action Item 2: Moved by Jack Fenn, seconded by Scott Rubel.
“The Local Issues Committee asks the Department of Recreation and Parks to repair the boundary fences and gates of Debs Park to preclude passage of motorized vehicles.”
To be presented at ASNC.

Action Item 3: Moved by Martha Benedict, seconded by Scott Rubel. Amended by Jack Fenn. That a letter be written to the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy and the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority supporting their efforts to protect the open space in the hilltops of Northeast Los Angeles by seeking willing sellers at fair market prices.

Jack Fenn:
Discussion regarding rumored development attempt on large, landlocked parcel near Montecito Drive, Montecito Circle and Debs Park. Parcel has no access presently. Owner is trying to gain access through existing properties. It is possible that development can happen without proper permitting. Mature trees on this lot provide habitat for wild life. Are trees protected? Some discussion regarding purchase by SMMC. People will continue to monitor the progress of this site

Elva Yanez:
Discussion regarding the need for an ICO for entire Northeast hillsides. Development of the area continues with little regulation. The question is how this ICO can begin to be developed. Further discussions at local issues or ASNC.

Roy Payan:
Discussion regarding the disking of Flat Top. It was done late in the year, killing plant roots. Consequently, the top layer has turned to sand and now supports no growth or wild life. It essentially destroyed wildlife habitat. Winter rains can make the hill erode. Presently we do not know who did the disking. Jack Fenn will check with Fire Station 47. The Foursquare Church may have done it. The County may have done and billed personal taxes. Mike Fong needs to be approached regarding seeding of the area. Possible letter from ASNC. This is crucial due to wild life and erosion. Disking should not be allowed due to its destructive outcome. Jack Fenn and Roy Payan will investigate and work with Mike Fong on a possible solution.

Meeting adjourned at 9PM

Submitted by Anne Fenn, secretary for the meeting

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Jack Fenn
jackfenn@pacbell.net

Scott Rubel
scott@invitesite.com