Riviera Homeowners Association

All Riviera residents are invited to attend next week’s general meeting beginning at 7:00PM

Featured guest: Mayor Pat Furey

We’re looking forward to our meetings next year to be in person, but this one you can enjoy in the comfort of your own home!

Here are the Zoom deets:

Topic: RHA General Meeting – November 3 2021
Time: Nov 3, 2021 07:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84891968602?pwd=TFFzM1ZDSlhQNmRnSGE0TEx4OHhlUT09
(Click on the link to join with your browser if you don’t have the Zoom app installed)

Meeting ID: 848 9196 8602
Passcode: 148990

One tap mobile
+16699009128,,84891968602#,,,,148990# US (San Jose)

Halloween Movie in the Park

The City of Torrance Community Services Department invites the entire family to Halloween Movie in the Park at Wilson Park on Saturday, October 30, 2021. Wear your costumes and bring your blankets and chairs for a special viewing of The Addams Family (2019, rated PG) under the stars! The event is free of charge, and no registration is required.  The event will be cancelled in the event of rain. 

Schedule:
5:00-6:00 p.m.        Enjoy music provided by DJ Ozzie and food ! from some of the most popular Farmers’ Market vendors (food available for purchase)
6:00-6:30 p.m.        Costume Parade
6:30-8:00 p.m.        Special viewing of The Addams Family (2019, rated PG)

Community Meeting on the Ashai  Mixed-use Development
at Hawthorne Blvd. and Via Valmonte

The Ashai Corporation was ordered by the City of Torrance Planning Division to have a public meeting regarding their project on the corner of Hawthorne and Via Valmonte.

This project is a mixed-use building, with three stories  (33 1/2 foot high walls + a 4 1/2 foot high AC cover) facing Hawthorne Blvd on the south side of Via Valmonte (the proposed Solana project is just north, across Via Valmonte).  At the back of the project will be 11 condo units.  There is a semi-subterranean parking lot for 35 cars with one entrance and exit on Valmonte for both. 

The Torrance Planning Division has described the project on their website. A number of studies on this development have been prepared, and are available on this California state agency website.

The meeting is open to the public and will be held on Thursday November 4 at 7:00 PM.  The location is the TORRANCE AIRPORT MEETING ROOM, 3301 Airport Drive .  The architects for the project will be there.

The RHA has presented these talking points expected to be addressed at this meeting:

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Membership – your commitment to the Riviera

It’s your dues that keep us going. For a modest yearly amount, the RHA can continue its valuable work. Please consider joining or renewing today.

See our Membership page for details.

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In Other Halloween News…

The Riviera Village Halloween Trick or Treat is back!

October 31 2021 3:00-6:00PM
Learn more here!

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Torrance’s Volunteer Center needs our help to feed Torrance families. They are hosting a Trunk & Treat event October 28 to collect food donations as their pantry is bare.  The Center’s CEO, Sara Myers, stated “The local families that participate in this program are so grateful for the support, but right now we don’t have enough food to meet the weekly needs. Our goal is to collect 5,000 pounds of food which will provide 2,183 meals.”

The RHA supports their effort and encourage you to please share with your friends, family, and neighbors. Click here for more details about the Food for Kids Program

General Meeting: Save the Date!

The RHA will host our next General Meeting at 7:00PM on November 3 2021, so please dine early and set aside an hour or two for some important updates and a special guest. Here is the link to join the meeting, we suggest you join us a few minutes before 7:00:

Topic: RHA General Meeting – November 3 2021
Time: Nov 3, 2021 07:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84891968602?pwd=TFFzM1ZDSlhQNmRnSGE0TEx4OHhlUT09

Meeting ID: 848 9196 8602
Passcode: 148990

One tap mobile
+16699009128,,84891968602#,,,,148990# US (San Jose)

The Riviera Village Halloween Trick or Treat is back!

This Riviera Village event has become a South Bay tradition, attracting thousands of children each year to enjoy Halloween in a safe, outdoor and fun atmosphere.

Catalina Avenue will be closed to traffic from Avenue I to Palos Verdes Blvd. Shops will hand out candy and treats outdoors. Make an evening of it, and stop for dinner in one of the many restaurants in the Village.
Here’s a tip: make your reservations early. It’s a great way to celebrate Halloween and enjoy all that Riviera Village has to offer.

Halloween should be scary but…

Thank you to Torrance Memorial for these Halloween safety tips for Trick or Treating:

• Young children should always be accompanied by an adult.
• Everyone should have a flashlight with fresh batteries. Also give kids a cellphone for emergencies if you will not be accompanying them.
• If older children are going without adult supervision, plan and review a route beforehand and agree on a time when they should be at home.
• Be mindful if your children have allergies. Houses with teal pumpkins on their porch signify an allergy-friendly house.
• Advise children to only go to homes that are well-lit. Never enter a home or car for a treat.
• Stay on brightly lit streets. Never cut across yards or walk through alleys.
• Always use established crosswalks and proceed with caution. Don’t assume motorists can see you.
• Discourage masks that may obstruct your child’s vision, and make sure his or her costume fits properly to prevent trips and falls.
• Make sure any face paint/makeup used is non-toxic.
• Drive extra carefully during Trick or Treating hours (usually 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.).
• Keep an eye out particularly for children in dark clothing.

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Since its inception, the Riviera Homeowners Association has been a fierce defender of the Hillside Overlay, written into the Torrance City municipal code decades ago, . It is up to the Torrance Planning Commission, and ultimately the currently seated City Council to make decisions based on the merits of a given residential expansion, weighed against the Hillside Overlay’s development standards, design review criteria, and limitations for hillside and coastal development.

On July 21, at the Planning Commission meeting,  20 residents of the Riviera area spoke on behalf of a homeowner, Mathilda  “Mike” Terre of Calle de Arboles, who was facing a proposed large two-story development next door to her long-time home.  The same neighbor and builder had proposed similar projects for the same lot seven times previously. 

 This time, thanks to the large number of Riviera neighbors attending the meeting and speaking on her behalf, Mrs. Terre and the Hillside Overlay had a big win. Although the Planning Department had recommended that they approve the project, the Planning Commission unanimously denied the project with prejudice, meaning that the builder cannot come back and propose another project for that lot for two years.

The Commissioners stated they were happy to see members of the community come together to support their neighbor and the Overlay.  We think the Commissioners finally realized the importance of the Overlay to residents.  

Loreen Trevino, founder of the grassroots organization Uphold the Hillside Overlay said, “We are an army of neighbors ready to fight for the Ordinance!”   Judy Brunetti of the Riviera Homeowners Association stated, “This is what happens when people are willing to come down to City Hall and participate. They notice when people are involved.!”  

Mike Terre, the homeowner, said, “Thank you to everyone who spoke tonight and who had a sign on their lawn. I am very, very grateful.” We were happy to see her so happy and relieved!

Next steps will be a letter to City Council recommending an amendment to the Hillside Overlay and changes in the Planning Department process.  Stay tuned!

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When: May 26th 2021
Time: 7:00 P.M. to 8:30 P.M.

Join us for our next Zoom RHA General Meeting! We’ve planned an event about an urgent topic, with a guest presenter from United Neighbors, who will discuss the impact of current re-zoning bills that will highly densify your Block, our City, this State .

With updates on: o the Hillside Overlay Ordinance o Saving trees on PCH o Airport Noise Monitoring o the Butcher-Solana development. … and featuring our HS Scholarship awardees of 2021 (and a special presentation by one of our winners, on the Torrance Refinery)!

The recording for this General Meeting is now available – press button to view:

Zoom meetings are no longer new for most of us, but while pandemic restrictions/concerns continue, we can still have a successful event – especially if you are with us!

We hope to see you online on the 26th and don’t forget to join or renew your RHA membership now!

You’ll soon be able to read (or download) a copy of our newsletter.

Reporting Potholes in Torrance

It’s the goal of the Torrance Public Works department to fix all potholes reported to them as soon as possible.

• Call Public Works at (310) 781-6900 or Email us at PublicWorksInfo@TorranceCA.Gov

For more information, checkout the city’s website for all things streetwise.

Excuse me, do you irrigate?

Check your irrigation systems periodically.  Several early morning systems are over spraying onto the sidewalks and drain into the gutters.  Most don’t realize when a sprinkler head has broken since they aren’t up early enough to see the gushing water as well as not testing their systems. 

Torrance has a website for that!

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Are you plugged in?

Residents can subscribe to the City of Torrance Early Warning Emergency Notification System. This automatically provides you with important information for everything from CoVid updates to parking enforcement to shelter-in-place orders. You can also op-in for information about major weather events, traffic, community events and much more. Register at: www.TorranceCA.Gov/TorranceAlerts

Questions? Contact: TorranceAlerts@TorranceCA.Gov.

Stay tuned for a heads-up on our next Riviera Homeowners Association General Meeting

Coyotes: our other neighbors in the Hollywood Riviera

The size of a coyote litter depends on the availability of food and water. An average urban coyote litter is between 5-7 pups. If food and water are abundantly available then the litter can be as large as 11. March is the time of year when coyotes den in preparation for pups. Food availability in March and April will contribute to this year’s adult coyote population.

Coyotes are seen in the Hollywood Riviera daily. Please follow these tips to eliminate easy access to food, water, and shelter:

• Do not feed wildlife (including squirrels and feral cats).
• Do not leave pet food outdoors.
• Do not leave pets unsupervised.
• Pick up fallen fruit from trees. Avocados, citrus, and other fruit account for nearly 25% of an urban coyote’s diet.
• Secure trash bin lids.
• Trim any excess vegetation to deter coyotes from denning on or near your property.   

For more information on urban coyotes and how you can help, please visit  TorranceCA.Gov/Coyotes.

And please take care to keep your pets safe!

TOILETRY DONATION DRIVE
Wednesday, March 17 – Wednesday, March 31

The Torrance Social Services Commission is holding a toiletry drive to benefit local organizations such as Harbor Interfaith, Family Promise of South Bay, Star Inc. Homes and 1736 Family Crisis, who serve people experiencing homelessness. They are accepting donations of the following NEW items in full and travel sizes: new shampoo, conditioner, body wash, bar soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste and more. They will be collecting hand and bath towels, socks and blankets.

You can drop-off at City Hall lobby and in the Permit Center. Two drive-up collection events will take place on Saturday, March 20th and Saturday, March 27th from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the West Annex parking lot just west of City Hall. For information, call the Social Services Commission at (310) 618-5880 or email SocialServicesCommission@TorranceCA.Gov.

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