Citizens Ask for Changes in Shopping Center Plan

More than 300 residents of La Canada Flintridge made a preemptive strike this week against plans by the Sport Chalet to build a large shopping center at the city’s main intersection.

In a well-orchestrated presentation to the City Council Monday, residents said they could accept a new shopping center in their affluent, largely residential community, but not the one proposed by the Sport Chalet, which they characterized as a low-quality, strip-commercial mall.

They demanded, instead, that the city press for a tony village-like square, with attractive boutiques, restaurants and outdoor dining areas that could serve as a focal point of the community.

Opportunity Stressed

“We have an opportunity to create something special here,” said Larry Preble, a spokesman for a citizens’ group that calls itself Residents for the Responsible Development of La Canada Flintridge. He urged the council “to become concerned and take over” plans for the shopping center.

For the first time since the Sport Chalet announced ambitious plans more than five years ago to expand its successful sporting goods complex, the council appeared receptive to the criticisms of residents.

The unusual presentation by the citizens’ group, including a 20-minute slide show, “got a lot of people to start thinking” about the type of development that could be created, City Manager Donald Otterman said in an interview Tuesday.

Several council members who have long defended the right of the Chalet to develop its property--where it has pioneered retailing of recreational goods for 30 years and contributed significant sales tax revenues to the city--said they were open to the positive input of critics.

Joint Venture Proposed

Longtime Councilman O. Warren Hillgren, a staunch defender of the Chalet’s plans, said he not only welcomed the ideas from residents, but proposed that the city enter into a joint venture with the developer. The suggestion brought cheers from an audience that had crammed into the council meeting room at Descanso Gardens in a show of force against the Chalet’s current proposal. “It’s about time that this council spend some money” to hire a consultant or obtain other professional help to develop the Chalet’s concept, Hillgren said.

The council ordered the city staff to propose suggestions on how the city might form a partnership with the developer. The suggestions are scheduled to be brought back to the council June 5.

In the past, residents have staunchly fought plans by the Chalet’s owners, Norbert and Irene Olberz, to turn their 11.7-acre holdings of retail stores, commercial shops and about 25 adjoining houses that they have acquired over the years into a shopping center at Foothill Boulevard and Angeles Crest Highway.

Critics have complained that plans by the successful German-immigrant couple could mark the start of commercialization in the community, which is predominantly residential, composed mostly of semi-rural estates, and where industry is banned.

City officials and leaders, on the other hand, have argued that increased commercialism--and the tax-dollars that it generates--is crucial to the financial well-being of the community of 20,800 residents. As a result, both sides have been at loggerheads for years.

Monday’s demonstration of protest was different.

‘No Bad Guys’

Instead of fighting development, the citizens’ group asked that it be given the opportunity to help formulate plans. “There are no ‘good guys’ and no ‘bad guys’ in this story because the story is not over,” said Preble. “This is our one shot--a very important shot--to shape our future. This is our opportunity to hit a home run.”

City officials on Monday cautioned critics that their complaints are premature. They said plans are still being studied by the city’s Architectural Review Committee, which has approved the design concept, although not the architectural specifics of style and materials. Public hearings, when residents will be given a chance to have their official say, are not scheduled to be held until July or later.

Consequently, the large turnout of residents at Monday’s meeting, at which many residents sat on the floor, some with young children curled up asleep at their feet, was a surprise to city officials.

Stephanie R. Scher, deputy city attorney, called the demonstration “a little unusual.” She said that complaints lodged by residents would not be included in a state-prescribed procedure for review of a proposed development. “I just don’t want anyone to think that this is your only shot,” she told the audience. “There will be lots of time for people to talk.”

‘Focus on Process’

Nevertheless, representatives of the citizens’ group said they felt it important that their ideas be heard before the city completes its review procedure. “We need to focus on process,” Preble said.

Councilman Ed Phelps, who won an upset victory last year over veteran council incumbents, claimed credit for the large turnout. “It’s all my fault,” he said. “This particular project is going to have the greatest impact on this community and there are things we need to do to get a hold of it.”

He called on residents to offer ideas and alternatives to developing the Chalet property. “There is a tremendous amount of talent in this community,” he said. “Any input you can give us at this formative stage would be appreciated.”

While the size of the city’s population has changed little over the years, “empty nesters”--older couples whose children have grown and left home--are slowly being replaced by young, affluent couples with children, said Otterman. He said the new generation accounts for the more receptive attitude toward development of a community shopping center.

Carol Paton, a member of the citizens’ group, compiled slides of other community shopping centers, both similar and dissimilar to the one proposed in La Canada Flintridge.

Slides Shown

She showed slides of centers designed by the Chalet’s developer, Paul Quong, such as a Western-style village built around a parking lot in Encinitas near San Diego and a Spanish-style plaza in Camarillo in Ventura County, which she called unacceptable.

In contrast, Paton said she likes the village-like ambience of shopping plazas in Westlake Village in Ventura County and Rancho Santa Fe in San Diego County, with their covered walkways, outdoor dining areas and textured sidewalks.

“We would like to see a place where you might want to be, rather than just go,” she said.