Susan Koleda joins La Cañada Flintridge Planning Commission
The La Cañada Flintridge Planning Commission officially welcomed Tuesday a new addition to the city staff, Deputy Director of Community Development Susan Koleda.
Creation of the new position — designed to oversee the department’s administrative staff and coordinate the use of planning resources — was approved by the City Council in May following the announcement that longtime senior planner Fred Buss planned to retire in July.
Koleda started the job last week, coming to the city from Palmdale, where she served for 16 years in a planning department role, most recently as acting planning manager since December 2013.
“It’s a great opportunity and a very different community,” Koleda said, noting she will be helping La Cañada Flintridge on its newly adopted general plan and its zoning ordinance revisions.
Director of Community Development Robert Stanley noted Koleda is a “great addition” to the staff.
A native of New Zealand, Koleda holds a bachelor’s degree in resources and environmental planning from Massey University, where she majored in both planning and geography.
Koleda also attended Humboldt State University for a one-year training with the school’s international exchange program in, specializing in the National Environmental Quality Act, California Environmental Quality Act and natural resource planning. She holds certification from the American Institute of Certified Planners.
“She has a lot of experience,” Stanley said at Tuesday’s meeting.
Also on Tuesday, the commission approved an appeal filed by resident Chungsok Lee, who lives at 1217 Olive Lane, allowing for the installment of an overhead electrical line to his new home along a shared driveway.
Among three possible options, planning staff recommended Lee temporarily connect to an overhead line, while seeking to install underground facilities to his property line, as required by Southern California Edison, in anticipation of receiving permission from a third party to the easement.
The option includes a recorded covenant that puts future homeowners on notice that the underground line should be connected, and the covenant and a performance security should also be required for the recommendation.
Planning Commissions also approved a request by resident Tonya Nielson to allow for the construction of a 2,058-square-foot one-story addition on a lot at 5329 Palm Drive with an average slope of 17%, above the 15% threshold for hillside review.
The addition replaces an existing structure to the front and joins with a nonconforming two-story building to the rear, totaling a combined floor and roof area of approximately 3,785 square feet.
According to the project architect, the process started eight years ago, and proposed solar panels, a swimming pool and the creation of a new spa will have separate permit requests.
“The attempt to keep this house low profile is good,” said Commissioner Arun Jain. “It is a very distinct roof.”
The next regular meeting of the La Cañada Flintridge Planning Commission is scheduled for Oct. 13 at 6 p.m. in City Council Chambers, 1327 Foothill Blvd.
Matt Sanderson is a contributing writer.