LA HABRA : City Council Halts Land Subdivision

The owners of two parcels on Park Way, who had permission from planning commissioners to subdivide their properties into three lots, were stopped from doing so last week by the City Council.

Council members overruled the commission’s decision on a 4-1 vote after residents complained that the land division could create landslides, invasion of privacy and traffic problems. Councilman James Flora dissented.

“These lots are not that easy to build on,” Councilman William D. Mahoney said of the properties, which are on a slope. He said he opposed subdividing the two lots unless the owners disclosed their plans for the land.

“I’m not saying that I would not support the project as a whole . . . but I would like to know what is going to be built up there,” Mahoney added.

Owners Stuart Hickman and Rick Evans, who have built one home on the 20,000-square-foot property, said they would provide the council with grading plans within a month.

“We might build; we might not. We might even sell the land, but we don’t know at this point,” Hickman said. “We’ll decide by next month.”

Residents said they will fight any subdivision unless the owners’ plans meet with their approval.

“I don’t know if there’s any end to this,” said Alfredo Mejia, who lives on La Casa Avenue, below Hickman and Evans’ property. He said dirt rolls into his back yard from the Park Way lots whenever it rains, and he fears that moving dirt to create a third buildable lot would cause catastrophic damage to his property.

Mejia is one of 55 people who signed a petition opposing the subdivision plan. Opponents cited concern about traffic on Park Way and its slope stability, city officials said.

“I don’t agree with (Evans and Hickman) trying to bunch three houses up there when there’s only room for two,” Mejia said. “We’re going to keep fighting until we come to some kind of an agreement.”