Riviera Homeowners Association

RHA board members recently attended one of the several strategic planning focus groups going on around Torrance. The next one happens on March 13th, 7 p.m. at Torrance Airport.

As a Torrance resident you can learn more, and register to attend the next one at this site:

https://www.torranceca.gov/government/city-manager/strategic-plan

(Reservations are required.) There’s also a button on that page to click for RESIDENT SURVEY.  All residents should complete this, it only takes about 5 minutes, especially If you can’t attend on the 13th.

Like you, the RHA wants to make the city of Torrance a better place to live and work, and these efforts will hopefully guide the city’s leadership to make wise choices.  Be a part of it.

Save the Date

Please set aside the evening of Wednesday April 24 May 1 to attend the next RHA General Meeting, as usual at Richardson Middle School.  The RHA board has been staying on top of multiple issues: the Torrance Refinery, cut-through traffic, state housing proposals, and city council elections, to name a few.   A full agenda will be made available a few weeks in advance.

Scholarship deadline

As in years past, the RHA will be awarding a college scholarship award to a deserving Riviera high school senior.  The application deadline is this week, so check with your high school counselor to make sure your application is in.  For more information, click here.

Filed under: Uncategorized | Comments Off on Make your city a better place

As the year draws to a close, your Riviera Homeowners Association wishes everyone a safe and happy holiday season, and thanks all our paid members for your support this past year.  We have much to be thankful for, and much to keep us mindful and busy in 2019.  Please consider working with the RHA Board as one of your New Years resolutions, to ensure and expand our efforts to support and preserve our wonderful community.

Membership drawing – the winners are:

At our October meeting, we offered a chance for new and renewing members to enter a drawing to win some vino for the holidays.  Our winners are:

Congratulations to our winners, and our thanks To Castle Rock Winery for providing the libation.

Filed under: Uncategorized | Comments Off on Holiday Greetings

RHA members and area residents were presented with a wealth of information on two different topics at our last meeting.  The first topic was “Granny Units” aka ADUs or Additional Dwelling Units.  The other topic featured two views of the Butcher-Solana project:  the  bad news about ambient contamination,  and the good news about what the future could bring to this site.

The state ADU mandate

Granny Units were explained by Linda Cessna, Deputy Director of the Community Development Department, and by Leo Oorts, City Planner.  ADUs are part of a new state law which is designed to ease the problem of insufficient housing.  The gist of the law is that homeowners may remodel a previously existing space, say an office room, to be a separate dwelling within their home.  This space may be rented out or offered to another resident.

Leo Oorts, Torrance Community Development Dept delivers an FYI on the ADU

If someone wants to build a room addition onto their home, and they are in the Hillside Overlay,  will they have to abide by the Hillside Overlay Ordinance (HOO)? A phone call to Planning Department on 10/22 got the answer from a planner “Yes, they will have to abide by the Hillside Overlay.”  If the building is less than 14 feet tall? The planner we spoke with was not sure.    We will have to see how this is enforced.  It is likely that it will put  pressure on the HOO and will require our vigilance and interaction with the City.

In case you missed it: click here for the complete ADU Presentation shown at the meeting.

More B-S

The second topic was  the Butcher-Solana development.   PV Estates resident and activist Joan Davidson (whose husband is on the PVE city council) presented an impressive amount of research and visuals which showed that the site is even more contaminated than we had thought.

Joan Davidson offering evidence of Butcher Hill contamination

Butcher Hill itself has been an unregulated dump site for decades, so it is not known exactly what is in the ground there, but methane, benzene and toluene, all dangerous contaminants, have been found there, along with silica and crystalline silica, a known carcinogen when stirred up by vehicles and construction.

The good news?  Jacob Varvarigos, the president of a very active land conservancy, the South Bay Parkland Conservancy, shared his views of what this land could be.

RHA board members Amy Josefek and Judy Brunetti, along with other members of the community, met with Assemblyman Al Muratsuchi on Wed. Oct. 17 to discuss the project.

We hope to bring you more good news before long.

Membership drive underway

Membership dues are what allow the RHA to continue, and fall is our prime time to accept your voluntary dues.  Our costs are going up, but so far not our low membership fee.   Help yourself by maintaining a vibrant Hollywood Riviera community.  Join or renew today !

New members joining between now and October 31 1918 are eligible for a drawing to win a case of Castle Rock wine — Pinot Noir or Chardonnay.  Winner will be announced on this website by November 15.  Only a few days left!

Don’t wait for the next meeting – contribute your voluntary dues here.  A heartful thanks to the many who offered their dues at our first meeting, and those who sent them in by mail or Paypal!

Announcing A Ribbon Cutting Event!

Mark the date:  Sunday, October 28, 2018,  2 pm

Dedication of the new Hollywood Riviera Historical Marker at the corner of Via Monte d’Oro and Palos Verdes Blvd.

Please join us and the Friends of the Hollywood Riviera to celebrate our two new markers AND the 90th Birthday of the Hollywood Riviera!

More info: 310.375.6539

Filed under: Uncategorized | Comments Off on First General Meeting for 2018-19