La Crescenta Valley Residents Organize

La Crescenta Valley residents irate over increased utility charges have formed a homeowners association.

A seven-member board of directors last week signed bylaws and incorporation papers to form the Crestmont Glen Homeowners Assn., said John Beach, vice president.

The group says it represents 14,000 residents of La Crescenta, Montrose and the northernmost portion of Glendale above La Crescenta Avenue and Ocean View Boulevard.

Beach said the homeowner rules require equal representation on the executive board between residents of the city of Glendale and the unincorporated Los Angeles County territory of the Crescenta Valley.

He said the territory between Glendale and the county is divided by Pennsylvania Avenue, “but we all live in one community called La Crescenta.”

Formation of the group began last year when a disabled resident, Marjorie Falloure, launched a one-woman campaign against a 138% increase in sewer charges levied by the Crescenta Valley County Water District. Rates for single-family houses jumped from $8.40 a month to $20.

Sewer rates are being boosted by all utilities in the Los Angeles area to help pay for federally mandated improvements to the Hyperion sewage treatment plant in El Segundo to reduce the amount of pollution dumped into Santa Monica Bay.

La Crescenta residents say that a flat sewer rate of $20 a month per household imposed by the Crescenta Valley district is unfair. The homeowners group is asking that fees be based on the amount of water usage by each household.

Falloure, who suffers from a heart ailment, said she declined to participate in the new homeowner group.