By Mary O’KEEFE

The development project in the 2600 block of Foothill Boulevard, the former site of Plumb Crazy, has been brought into compliance by changing the originally proposed three-story building into a two-story.

“I was notified late Tuesday from Paul Novak, (planning deputy to Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael Antonovich), of the [compliance]” said Cheryl Davis, president of Crescenta Valley Town Council.

Davis said the developer, George Voskanian, had the third floor removed so the building is now two stories, which complies with the 35-foot maximum for the area.

“Paul said they verified this from its natural grade before they had [leveled] the property,” Davis added. “This means [the Voskanian project] has approval and it has been confirmed.”

Because this project was presented to the planning department before the Community Standards District went into effect the developer is not obligated to follow any of those preset standards of design.

The CSD presents guidelines for developers to follow in an effort to have a unified design along Foothill Boulevard in La Crescenta within the unincorporated area of Los Angeles.

The project has been a topic of heated discussion at many CVTC meetings.  Concerns about the proposed underground parking, the third story and a Moreton bay fig tree have had community members grabbing signs and walking the sidewalk in front of the project. During a protest to save the fig tree, Davis and council member Frank Beyt met with Voskanian to discuss the project.

“He seems willing to work with the community. He talked with us about the color and not using native rock but our La Crescenta rock instead,” Davis said.

In fact Davis said Voskanian has been very willing to discuss the building exterior design and the fig tree.

“It is [my understanding] he has hired two arborists to assess the tree. He doesn’t want it to die,” she said. “He has even allowed us to take down all those political signs off his fence.”

Davis and council members have been asking business owners if they could remove the political signs from fences because they feel they are unsightly and disorganized.

Davis added the owner has continued to be cooperative and has taken the community concerns into consideration.

  Community Standards Design, Foothill Boulevard