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| Anguish |
We all know the Henry A. Darling house story by now, and the last thing I feel like doing on this cool and breezy evening is regurgitating that sad tale of arrogance and stupidity all over again. As we know, life is far too short for that.
But there are two portions of the Staff Report for this item that literally defy all logic. If these people are the guardians of this city's interests, along with the defenders of its laws and construction codes, then you might as well head on down to City Hall and take whatever you want. Apparently staff will just stand by, grinning happily as you remove office equipment and anything else of value and beat feet to the nearest pawn shop.
Which, if I am not mistaken, is somewhere due east of here. Possibly in Pomona.
Here is that portion of the agenda report (link) where staff calls upon the Planning Commission to give Billy Kefalas and his lawsuit happy lawyer every little thing their hearts desire.
Did you get that? It is repeated later as well.
In this new Robert Carpenter "Historical Resource Evaluation Report," commissioned by Mr Kefalas because the original one did not reach a conclusion that served his personal interests, the following astonishing conclusion is drawn.
There it is. The Henry A. Darling house no longer has any historical validity because the things that would have given it that designation were destroyed. Therefore the Planning Commission should give the guy who brought about that very destruction a Discretionary Demolition Permit. Something Kefalas needs so he can continue doing with that property as he sees fit.
That is what City Staff has based their decision on. The Henry A. Darling house no longer has any historical value because that part of it was destroyed. Therefore let's give the guy who did the deed what he needs to reap the rewards his unhappy actions will bring him.
Bad, even for city government. Your tax dollars at work.
sierramadretattler.blogspot.com
The PC will be enraged!
ReplyDeleteEnraged to learn that they approved all this, and he actually did it?
DeleteHow's your fantasy world going this morning, 8:13?
DeleteI asked for butter on my toast. Take this back and do your job.
DeleteAgain, do what you want and plead ignorance later. As far as I can tell the situation is similar to the knucklehead that built a two story house in his backyard without permits on a lot that already had two units on it. It is now open season on do anything in Sierra Madre. Keep your eyes open, South Lima! Every vacant and abandoned home is now subject to whatever the owner desires.
ReplyDeleteAfter tomorrow night's regular PC meeting there will be a backroom session with the City Attorney. The topic is a potential lawsuit. What do you want to bet it has something to do with the Kefalas situation?
ReplyDeleteI wonder which "parts" or "things" that would have given it designation were historical? Many houses in town were rebuilt ( although not from the bare studs) and are registered historical.
ReplyDelete"You" never " got it" in the first place. Capacity to believe does not Trump ( pun intended) your capacity to understand the city codes.
ReplyDeleteCan you identify the applicable codes and how they apply in this particular situation?
DeleteDo you have those codes ready yet?
DeleteCity hall has no back bone to file suit only enough courage to continue to tax the city residents!
ReplyDelete"Every thing their little hearts desire" was legal in the first place. Logical and coler heads should have prevailed in the first place, on the first very dramatic meeting.
ReplyDeleteA shocker in it's appearance, every thing was legal; except for that small section of roof.
There are no codes for interior design or materials of a house, it is for the home owner's "taste" or lack there of.
So you say. But that is about it.
DeleteSo you say? I'm pretty sure that's exactly what the city says too. in fact I'm positive that's what it says in black and white.
DeleteCan you provide a cite?
DeleteRead the staff report
DeleteNo cite, eh? Such a surprise.
DeleteWhy did our City Staff cave? The Planning Commission needs to stand firm.
ReplyDeleteI still haven't eaten at the Only Place in Town. We need a grab my wallet boycott of that place. You won't miss much anyway. The food stinks.
ReplyDeleteReally poor quality food, and prices that are too high.
DeleteI must say I had a nasty tuna salad there
DeleteI haven't been there either but that hasn't stopped the stupid and unknowing from going. I wonder how many of these posts were made by Mr. K.
DeleteDowntown Los Angeles on Saturday a permitted rally will be held for the disbelivers of President Trump winning the election, this may be just the right venue for "you" continuing "your" I just don't get it, attitude, while walking off your stress.
ReplyDeleteTroll got trumped
DeleteMagalomania
Try reading the report. It says what kefalas has been saying all along. The pc approved all of what you see. They admitted to all of it except part of the roof. So if you are unhappy with what he did, perhaps your angst should be against the pc that approved it, or staff that stopped it after it was done. But getting upset at the owner for doing what he said he would do is disingenuous. I believe there were 2 PC meetings vetting that project, if you didn't like what was presented, why didnt you say something. Even now, what's not to like, he is rebuilding the same house with an addition in the back. The people that lost here are the neighbors who have had to look at that mess for 3 years now, and I'm sure kefalas is not happy with the amount of money it's cost for nothing.
ReplyDeleteWhich report are you referring to? The one that says he was at fault, or the one where city staff caved in?
DeleteYou obviously didn't read it.
Delete3 years?
DeleteSo let me guess - the only real consequence the Planning Commission can hand to this creep is to make him wait 2 years, from which date? The original application? He's just been playing out the time.
During his speeches at the meetings it was clear he's the kind of guy who insists that he's right, no matter what and no matter how wrong he is. The city probably had to choose between this and continued law suits from the jerk.
8:16am. Time for you to swallow that hard pill of I was incorrect.
ReplyDeleteHysteria has it's value in the "moment", but then allow "cooler" heads to prevail as information is gathered.
Answer the question, spanky. Which report are you referring to? And if city staff says it, does that in your mind make it an unquestionable truth?
DeleteHard pill?
DeleteGel Cap.
DeleteIf k wins the lawsuit, it's just another expense which we the city residents must pay!
ReplyDeleteHere is the staff report section. If that doesn't satisfy your obtuse testing of the facts, perhaps follow the link and read the application for CUP 15-23, and the approval with conditions signed by the chair of the planning commission. http://www.cityofsierramadre.com/common/pages/DisplayFile.aspx?itemId=8258379
ReplyDelete"Staff processed Conditional Use Permit 15-23 which permitted the reconstruction of the house in a manner that it will resemble the original structure as viewed from the street. The scope of work included:
Replacement of the wood siding with Hardie Board exterior clapboard siding;
Replacement of original windows, casings and frames, with energy efficient
aluminum clad windows;
Repair of the front porch and supporting columns, balcony, roof eaves, where feasible or replace with new material;
Install new foundation within the perimeter of the existing arroyo stone foundation;
Reconfiguration of interior walls, and
Rear addition of 1,866 square feet.
The application for CUP 15-23 included demolition of the south-facing wall to accommodate a new addition to the rear of the existing structure. Demolition of any portion of a residential structure more than 75 years old requires a Discretionary Demolition Permit, the application for which requires a written historic assessment or survey by a qualified historic preservation consultant which concludes that the property proposed for demolition is not eligible for local listing or designation, nor a contributor to an existing or potential historic district. At the time of the application for CUP 15-23, the Discretionary Demolition Ordinance provided an "exception" under Section 17.60.056 F.1, which provided that a discretionary demolition permit was not required if twenty-five percent or less of the exterior walls of the structure were proposed for removal to accommodate an addition or remodel which would not impact the front facade. The applicant proceeded under this “exception.” As a result, no historic assessment was performed regarding the application to reconstruct or rehabilitate the single family home, and a finding was made that, on this record, a Categorical Exemption under CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3) was applicable, e.g., that based on the record before the Planning Commission, that the project would not have a significant effect on the environment. Additionally, the CUP permitted the removal of all exterior siding and original windows and replacement with modern (not like-kind) materials and did not require preservation of any removed original materials for reuse later, either or this project or as salvage for another project.
Everybody likes the report that agrees with their opinion.
DeleteWhen you try to please everyone you please nobody at all.
Delete8:55am. Padded walls are for your protection.
ReplyDeleteMy eggs are runny. Please take them back and bring me something fit for humans.
Delete9:16am. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteLet the rest of the world "move on".
ReplyDeletePulling out of the Paris Accord, Climate does change.
Good news, CNN terminated Kathy Griffiths contract this AM.
Her ISIS style joke of severed head - not funny.
At least she didn't grab anybody's pussy.
DeleteTrump and his failed trolls desperately trying to go back in time as the rest of cilization progresses. Go get a real job and quit whining about your insecurity.
Delete10:44am. Latient tendencies?
ReplyDeleteLactose intolerant.
Delete12:00pm. Would "you" cite how the rest of civilization progresses?
ReplyDeleteBefore or after the Orange Man is impeached?
DeleteI identify as Orange.
DeleteAgent Orange.
DeleteTrump is the Neville Chamberlain of now. Running and hiding (and personally profiting) while the rest of the world rallies fights the threat of climate change.
ReplyDeleteClimate change, Confefe!
ReplyDeleteI'll take a stab as "how the rest of the world progresses..." with an example from 40! Years ago in Fontana. Kaiser steel mill was unwilling to clean up polluting production and paid $10,000/day in fines instead of modernizing and retrofiting to clean up their polluting manufacturing. Out of business within a few years as Japan modernized and captured the market. Trump Is setting us up for something similar except some American companies will be smarter and follow the green to the green backs.
ReplyDeleteTrump is the kaiser steel mill of today.
DeleteCan't face reality. A fossil. Will be left behind. Will make America irrelevant