In the lastest edition of DRC...

Well, what a week this has been! Not only were we preparing for DRC, but the Planning Commission meeting was also held the same day. Even though it was a short agenda, DRC did welcome new business and said goodbye to one of our beloved oak trees. Take a look below for a recap of the October 14th DRC meeting.

A minor exception was requested for a single family residence at 200 block of West Cypress Avenue for an addition to the front of house. Basically, the property owner wanted to continue the existing setback that does not meet the minimum. We understand that requiring the existing development standards can affect the design or look of a home, so the minor exception process was the way to go. If approved, it would allow for the owner to add over 800 square feet to their home. After much deliberation, DRC unanimously approved the minor exception. Woohoo!

On a different note, we will bid farewell to one of our beloved oak trees in town. We received an oak tree removal permit for a property located on the 200 block of Melrose Avenue. The applicant provide an arborist report with an assessment addressing the condition of an existing oak tree in the front yard. The arborist recommended that it is in advanced and irreparable decline and it should be removed immediately. Let us take a minute to remember that great oak tree and the wonderful canopy it once possessed...

On a lighter note, we have several new business coming to town!

A new monument sign was approved for Westport Construction Inc. on the 100 block of West Maple Avenue. 

Good Fortune Supermarket will be replace Hong Kong Supermarket. We wish Good Fortune Supermarket good luck!

And finally, the new signs for the Taco Bell Remodel at 140 West Huntington Drive. For all you drive-thru Pizza Hut lovers, make sure that you take advantage of pizzas while they're still hot. The new remodel will only be for the Taco Bell and pizza will no longer be available. 

Tune in next time, for the next edition of DRC....this is the Planning Division, signing off.

Join us on a trip...

On a night with an unusually light agenda...earlier this month, the Planning Commission approved a three unit apartment complex at 1414 South Alta Vista Avenue.  The end.

Is that all there is?  

Well, no, of course not...you know there's always more to the story.  So really this is just the beginning...well not quite the beginning, but close enough...

For those of you that have been following us for a while, last year we picked a project we were going to feature from beginning to end, start to finish or a term that many Planners use: cradle to grave.  That project lost a little momentum, so we've switched gears and and projects which brings us to 1414 South Alta Vista Avenue.

Projects start with a concept.  Often a sketch, not more than a doodle.  Yes, sometimes even on the back of a napkin.  

Enter the Planner.  We take that idea, and work with the applicant..over the counter...to make sure they understand the parameters of what the zoning allows.  

Over the next few weeks, there's often some back and forth until a the site plan is finalized.  

Then starts the building design.  

There's a lot of talented people that we work with; proposals come in with just a few tweaks and off they go.  But the ones we really enjoy need a little more massaging.  Getting our creative juices flowing to get to them to the point where the application is ready to be submitted.  

While it may seem that the Development Review Committee (DRC), Planning Commission and/or the City Council approve every project that comes before them, their collective track record is deceiving.  

If projects were getting denied right and left, then we, as City staff, are not doing our job.  Our philosophy is to get the applicant to "yes", if we don't think that's likely, then we want to communicate that from the start before a lot of time, energy and money are wasted.  That's counterproductive for everyone.

Ultimately, it's the property owner or applicant who makes the choice to go forward and the approving body that approves or denies the proposal.

So back to South Alta Vista...based on the recommendation of Staff and DRC, the Planning Commission approved the project.  So now they move from the entitlement phase (that is their Planning/zoning approvals) to the pre-construction phase.  Preparing their construction documents moving toward the issuance of a building permit.

Stay tuned as we travel through the development process.

Quercus agrifolia

It’s a fancy name for an oak tree, the coast live oak to be specific.  While several types of oaks are native to Monrovia like the Engelmann Oak, when we think “oaks”, we’re picturing coast live oaks.  Monrovia has its fair share of these stately trees throughout town.  In fact, Monrovians have always had a great affection and appreciation for their oak trees.

William Monroe’s house at 250 North Primrose Avenue is called “The Oaks.”  Then there are all the street names: Oakglade, Oakdale, Royal Oaks, Winding Oak…at last count there were at least 9.  Foothill Boulevard used to be named White Oak.  Then there’s Garfield Place.  Most people know this as the street with the oak tree growing in the middle of it…we could go on and on…ok just a couple more…there’s Bradoaks (a school and a street) and the Live Oak cemetery.

So why are we talking oaks?  Well after a recent incident involving some oak trees caused quite a stir, we thought it would be important to set the facts straight.  

Back in 1987, the City Council adopted the Oak Tree Preservation Ordinance to protect our oaks and acknowledge their importance.  What this City law does is to classify the oak as a protected tree in many locations and requires a permit to cut down or do a major trimming on most oak trees in the City. 

Where is this story going?

Well last year, a house on North Mountain Avenue was sold.  One of the things that really attracted the new owners to the property were the three majestic oaks in the front yard.  Recently, the owner noticed that one of the trees was not looking quite right and called a Certified Arborist to take a look at the trees.  Unfortunately, the arborist determined that all three oak trees were fatally diseased and that the other two would soon succumb to the same fate as the first and recommended that they be removed. 

The owner, fully aware of the City’s regulations, came in to talk to City Staff and provided a copy of the report for the City’s review.  The City’s arborist reviewed the report and inspected the trees for himself and agreed that the immediate removal of the trees was warranted.

The trees were removed over the weekend and like we said, Monrovians are very keen on their oaks.  Seeing that these beautiful trees were coming down and not knowing the back story, passersbys called the police to report the crime.  The police arrived and stopped the cutting until it was confirmed that due to their health, the trees were approved to be removed.

While there is no real happy ending to the story for the oaks, we are very happy to hear that the owner has chosen to plant two large sycamore trees.  Not only are sycamores another Monrovia native, they are also resistant to the oak tree disease that is likely still present in the soil. 

If you’re still with us and want to find out even more about oak trees, their care, Monrovia’s ordinance, you can find it on the City’s website.