FROM THE FOOTHILLS:

Properties at Briggs Avenue and Foothill Boulevard are a focal point of activity this year. The property owner of La Crescenta Motel asked the Crescenta Valley Town Council to write a letter to Los Angeles County’s Planning Commission to back a request to modify his conditional-use permit, which lapsed last August.

The council was aware that letters from community groups do not change the law. Lapse in a conditional-use permit requires a new filing. Although some residents would like to see this property developed, there are also residents who do not feel the same. Regardless of opinions about this issue, the council is bound by law and did not write a letter of support, as it might appear as a special favor.

Since other necessary requirements for this property have been satisfied, the conditional-use permit process should be quicker this time around. Another public land-use committee meeting will take place, allowing all interested parties to view plans and make comments. All land-use meetings are announced in the local newspapers and on our website.

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Pickens Canyon Park is opening Wednesday. Concerns that have been voiced about the size and cost of the park are understandable. This project was well in the works five years ago and proposed by the former Foothill Design Committee.

When I was elected to lead the council in December 2006, the project was too far along to justify stopping. Public notification about the project was in the newspapers, at council public meetings and on the website for several years. The park will serve as a beautiful entry to La Crescenta with a nice welcome sign. We hope it will be enjoyed.

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Arbor Day — presented by Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael Antonovich, County Parks and Recreation, and our Town Council — was celebrated at Two Strike Park on March 8.

Our community received a donation of a large London Plane tree from C & Y Growers in North Hollywood. This type of tree was recommended as the tree best suited for Foothill Boulevard by the former Foothill Design Committee.

County Public Works is scheduled to plant the tree on Foothill shortly. We are grateful for donations of sandwiches from Ralph’s Fresh Fare and Togo’s in La Crescenta as well as chips and salsa from Los Gringos Rapidos.

The second-grade Valley View Eagles, lead by Lisa Jenks, did an incredible job of singing for the crowd. And several community groups came together with informational booths for the public.

Former Councilwoman Jaleen Lunt presented the history of Arbor Day and similar celebrations around the globe.

Crescenta Valley High School ROTC, who posted the colors, and prayers were led by Assistant Pastor Hendrik Shanazari of Christ Armenian Church in La Crescenta and the youth pastor, Neville Hong, from Antioch Presbyterian Church in Montrose.

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Scholarships are available for any high school senior who is a resident of unincorporated La Crescenta or Montrose, or a student at Crescenta Valley High School. The deadline for submitting applications is March 31. Applications are available on our website. Anyone wishing to donate to the scholarship program can contact the council via e-mail or phone.

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Sprint is planning to place a cell antenna on the roof of a building at 2540 Foothill Blvd.

The council’s understanding after consultation with the county is that we could ask cell companies to co-mingle their antennas or to try to make cell towers blend by looking like a tree for example.

This specific antenna is proposed for an area that is not near other antennas and is not a tower that would lend itself to look like a tree.

A federal mandate prevents us from addressing health concerns relating to cell towers.

The public meeting regarding this site was on Tuesday, at the Planning Board meeting in Los Angeles.

As previously stated, if anyone in the community wishes to tackle the federal government requesting new, unbiased testing relating to health concerns, please give me a call.

The Town Council’s Thursday public meeting will include reports from the Los Angeles County Fire Department and Sheriff Department including information on local parking regulations.

Please join us at 7 p.m. at the Crescenta Valley High School Career Center, 2900 Community Ave.

?GRACE ANDRUS is president of the Crescenta Valley Town Council and a resident of La Crescenta.