By Brandon HENSLEY

The Crescenta Valley Town Council Land Use Committee plans to notify community members later this summer detailing news about the property on which the La Crescenta Motel sits.

Land Use Co-Chair Ines Chessum said the developer has submitted plans to LA County Regional Planning for affordable housing condo units, but those plans could be months away from approval. Reports concerning traffic and fire must still be conducted and approved. Land Use would prefer to gain more knowledge about the owner’s plans before proceeding with public information.

Land Use has drawings from the developer, which plans to tear down the motel, formerly the May-Lane Motel, on Foothill Boulevard and Briggs Avenue. In its place would be affordable housing.

The motel sits on two triangle lots. CV Weekly previously reported the current proposal covers both parcels on the property. For the front triangle portion, approximately 21,000 square feet, the developer seeks to build three four-story buildings, 45 feet high (this is 10 feet higher than zoning provisions allow) consisting of 28 housing units (a single one-bedroom, 16 two-bedroom, and 11 three-bedroom condo units) ranging in area from 860 to 1,500 square feet.

The second portion of the plan would be to increase building heights by 10 feet; constructing four five-story 52-foot-high buildings – 40 units, 13 two-bedroom and 27 three-bedroom units, ranging in size from 1,236 to 1,706 square feet.

“The intent of the LUC is to engage in conversation because we like to preserve the quality of developments our community has come to be known for,” Chessum said.

Land Use has been trying to set up a meeting with the owners for some time. Under COVID-19 conditions this year, that has been difficult. Typically the committee members meet with the owners, then the developers would come to a meeting to explain the proposal, and the owners would then reach out to residents within an established radius by mailing letters detailing a public meeting.

Chessum said Land Use also needs to ask questions of Regional Planning. Land Use doesn’t have the power to stop developments from happening, but it can influence decisions.

“Whether we approve it or not does not stop it. We want to influence when we engage in conversation with [Planning]. That’s really the tool we have,” Chessum said.

Chessum said the important point for developers to consider, especially when designing buildings with high density, is having the plans meet Community Design Standards. In this case, the infrastructure needs to be able to support the density.

“Our water, traffic and sewage are going to be impacted,” Chessum said. “Establishing a conversation helps [developers] understand the intent to make a good project so the community can be engaged.”

  Brandon Hensley