Misdemeanor Charges Filed on La Canada Developer

The Los Angeles district attorney’s office has brought three misdemeanor criminal charges against a La Canada Flintridge developer for alleged violations of the county’s building code.

Construction on three properties owned by Melvin Ricks, a Glendale dentist and 20-year La Canada Flintridge resident, has been halted since February when the city issued stop-work orders in connection with the allegations.

City Manager Donald H. Otterman said the city turned its findings over to the district attorney’s office in a letter alleging five violations.

But Deputy Dist. Atty. Jacqueline Lacey said she declined to file on two of the incidents reported in the city’s letter after receiving a response from Ricks. The case is set for arraignment on May 13.

Ricks is charged with a grading violation, a permit violation and the illegal trimming of an oak tree on city property.

Lacey said she will ask to have Ricks put on three year’s probation and fined an undetermined amount for damage to the oak tree.

Otterman said Ricks had a history of “pushing the building code to the limit” and that his development projects had drawn complaints from neighbors.

But, Otterman said, Ricks had “really stepped out of bounds” during construction on his present properties.

Ricks, who said he has developed four other residential properties in the city, called the charges “ridiculous.”

Ricks said he has committed only one violation and that was done in ignorance.

He said it occurred when he cut off a limb of an oak tree that was impeding access to his property on Dover Road, where he plans to build a single-family home.

A consultant, using the landscape appraiser’s guide, estimated the damage at $10,000, according to Public Works Director Fullmer Chapman. The city intends to seek restitution, Chapman said.

At another development on Berkshire Avenue, Ricks is charged with building a bridge without a permit. Ricks argues that the Los Angeles County building code does not require a permit to build a bridge.

But William F. Campbell, director of community development, said that not all bridges are exempt and that Ricks’ bridge is not.

Finally, the complaint charges that Ricks failed to obtain a grading permit for his property on Caldero Road, where he is building a seven-unit apartment complex.

Ricks said he is losing money because of the work stoppage and that he will not build in the city anymore.

“It’s nothing but a big mess now,” Ricks said. “It certainly isn’t worth it to fight anybody in La Canada.”

Ricks said he believes that the action against him stems from pressure applied by a single homeowner near his Berkshire property.

Campbell said, however, that there were several complaining parties.