Introducing the CVCA

CV Weekly welcomes its newest columnist Sharon Weisman to the Viewpoints section. She can be read the first issue of every month.

For nearly 10 years an offshoot group of the Historical Society of Crescenta Valley, first called Crescenta Valley Heritage and then Crescenta Valley Community Association (CVCA) since 2007, has promoted preservation of historic structures, monitored and encouraged thoughtful growth design, and advocated for preservation of open space to maintain and enhance the suburban quality of life in the Crescenta Valley.

There have been many successes over the years, including reducing the overheight condominium on Florencita even though it had been partially built, the saving of Weatherwolde Castle via purchase by a preservation-minded couple, rejection of the massive three-story retail and office building proposed for the former Foothill Lumber site on Foothill Boulevard, and completion of the North Glendale Community Plan. The zoning changes related to the North Glendale Community Plan lowered maximum building heights allowed in the Glendale portion of Foothill to be compatible with the Los Angeles segment to the west and the L.A. County portion to the east.

There have been disappointments too: three houses built on the northwest corner of La Crescenta and Manhattan that we would have much rather seen developed into Bonetto Meadows Park and the construction of a commercial building on the south side of the 2600 block of Foothill in unincorporated La Crescenta that threatened the Moreton Bay Fig tree next door. It would have been even more massive if not for efforts of local activists. That building is still not fully occupied, by the way.

Most important are those land use issues still unresolved. The Verdugo Hills Golf Course owners have developed a new plan for the property which will be presented at a STNC Land Use Committee meeting on Oct. 20 at 7 p.m. at the Los Angeles North Valley City Hall, 7747 Foothill Blvd. It is expected to be a small lot development project. Crescenta Cañada VOICE will be again leading the community efforts to save the recreational asset for the public good.  These meetings are open to the public.

Those who support efforts to keep the 710 extension from bringing unwanted traffic and resultant pollution, noise and accident potential into our area continue to lobby for alternatives to mitigate the traffic problems in Alhambra. If you share concerns about this issue, look into the Stopthe710 Yahoo group, No710.com, or their Facebook page.

A 30-unit condominium project proposed for 4201 Pennsylvania Ave., at the 210 Freeway, was returned for redesign by the Glendale Design Review Board when many in the community expressed their opinions that it was too massive, particularly on the western end, and was not compatible with the neighborhood. I felt the decision upheld the North Glendale Community Plan. A 30-unit condominium project has recently been submitted for the same property, and I am hopeful for a new design which better fits its surroundings.

CVCA is still active, advocating for appropriate land use and development from Sunland-Tujunga, through Far North Glendale, unincorporated La Crescenta/Montrose, and La Cañada Flintridge to Hahamongna. We meet the fourth Thursday of the month, January through October, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the La Crescenta Library at Foothill and La Crescenta. We welcome all interested residents.

I hope you will join in our efforts to maintain and improve the quality of life in our valley. Our next meeting will be Oct. 23. We plan to invite CV Town Council candidates for an informal meet and greet with the community.

Sharon Weisman is a member of the Crescenta Valley Community Association Steering Committee and active in a number of community groups.