Public Urged to Attend Hearings on Bulk Housing
The city of San Gabriel has seen many favorable changes since the controversial City Council and recall elections. Question. Where is everybody now? All the gung-ho citizens hot to get involved, be heard, clean up their city, concerned with bulk housing and monster-sized homes?
The council chamber is near empty now. Their opinions and desires are needed now as much as ever. There are still ordinances to be passed to help correct the over-sized single-family dwellings that are being remodeled. Second-story home additions that invade their privacy, devalue their home and increase their landscaping costs. Offending and narrow side and rear setbacks giving them no air, light or privacy.
On Jan. 12, the City Council passed a bulk ordinance only to realize a couple of months later that revisions were necessary. The Planning Commission suggested a subcommittee be formed to review the ordinance and investigate the current home additions. This subcommittee, comprised of two planning commissioners (one a real estate broker) an architect, a council member and the city planner, met several times to discuss the outcome of their field investigations and to compare pictures of the offending dwellings.
Home additions have changed the aesthetics of many single-story neighborhoods, and unwittingly invaded the privacy of their neighbors because of outdated ordinances. Their findings prompted the Municipal Code Amendment 90-3 to regulate bulk housing and height of single-family dwellings in all residential zones of the city.
The second and final reading will be at the Aug. 7 City Council meeting. The residents have a choice and they have a voice. Instead of leaning on their rakes or back walls complaining to their neighbors, they should write or speak to their elected officials. They not only listen, they can approve this amendment to help control monster-sized additions.
Another point on new additions: Would you want to be notified if a neighbor within 300 feet of your home is planning major reconstruction? Possibly a second story overlooking your pool; with low-silled windows looking into your bedroom; totally invading every square inch of privacy?
We learned the hard way that the city is not obligated to inform you of this. It’s up to you to let them know you want personal notification if a second-story addition goes up within 300 feet of your home.
Public hearings are where a resident can be heard. We urge them to attend the Aug. 7 public hearing in San Gabriel in support of the bulk housing amendment. If they can’t attend, write to City Hall.
STEVE and MADDIE PETERSEN
San Gabriel
