Blog: The Beginning of a New Era

Attending Thursday night’s Planning Commission meeting, I couldn’t be more proud of this community.  Many of Sierra Madre’s citizens spoke up on the Kensington Assisted Living Facility project during public comment, expressing a wide range of thoughts and opinions.  Some speakers gave impassioned speeches in support of the project and some against it.  Some identified serious concerns, support notwithstanding; some gave suggestions for improving the project.

All speakers were civil, with well-reasoned arguments.  Many had drafted their remarks in advance and delivered their messages effectively.  Those in the audience listened attentively and respectfully– no catcalls or painful moaning and groaning – just a gathering of citizens participating in thoughtful debate.  Even more impressive was how many stuck around well past the 11 p.m. close of the meeting to engage in further discussion.  We were finally asked to leave around midnight so the doors could be locked and staff could go home after a long day.

Yes, Sierra Madre at its finest!  

Perhaps we have the beginning of a new era, but for a large elephant in the room– the “dwelling unit” controversy.  This elephant is standing in the way of a new era of civility in Sierra Madre.  Let’s get rid of it!

The demise of the dwelling unit elephant is almost at hand.  We can thank two people.  First, the developer’s representative, Billy Shields expressed in writing, a good-faith willingness to allow a vote of the people.  Second, Kurt Zimmerman eloquently exposed an error in the staff report– Kurt proved that the planning commission at the January 19 meeting effectively ruled that by rejecting the claim of ambiguity regarding the definition of dwelling unit, the Kensington project was subject to the terms of the Voter’s Empowerment (Measure V) ordinance.

I believe the developer is acting in good faith.  Our City Staff, elected officials and legal counsel should act in kind, and eliminate the controversy by dropping the challenge to the dwelling unit definition.  Let’s move on, and get on with the difficult job of finalizing the details of the project.  

The process is simple: 

Planning Commission:  Work with the developer to hammer out a final plan that addresses the many concerns and suggestions that were raised by the public, and then submit the plan for Council approval.  The final plan may be for 74 dwelling units, or another number.  The final number would be specified in the plan.  Any number of other changes may be negotiated as well, for example lowering the height, placing some storefronts at street level, etc.

City Council: Approve the plan either as submitted by the planning commission or approve it with modifications.  As such, the project would be finalized and ready to move forward, pending voter approval on the dwelling unit exception.  The Council would then direct legal staff to draw up a ballot measure for approval of the dwelling unit exception.  The ballot measure would be a simple modification to the Voter’s Empowerment ordinance, in which an exception will be granted regarding the maximum number of dwelling units per acre, narrowly specified for the two parcels on which the development is proposed. 

Voters:  Vote to approve the modification in November!

This will be the beginning of a new era.  We’ll prove to ourselves that Voter’s Empowerment will work, and we can move past the poisonous, acrimonious division that has plagued our city since the Voter’s Empowerment Initiative became the law of the land in reaction to the Downtown Specific Plan.

Am I foolishly and hopelessly optimistic?  I hope not. Tell me what you think in the comments!