Tree/view ordinance for Torrance gains steam

Dear friends and neighbors:

On Tuesday, Oct. 21, the Torrance City Council did something that many people said would NEVER happen:  they voted unanimously to examine the view ordinances of neighboring cities, hold community meetings and write a draft tree/view ordinance!!

We are sure that the council’s unanimous decision was due in part to all the emails and phone calls from residents in favor of a tree ordinance.  Certainly the number of people who came to city council to speak with such sincerity about the problems that residents face because of the lack of guidance and restrictions was very convincing.  After the council voted to examine tree/view ordinances, Mayor Furey said that they will  begin the outreach program to HOAs and community groups after the first of the year.

Thank you so much to residents for supporting the view ordinance.  We think it will go a long way to restoring views, eliminating disagreements, and rebuilding relationships between neighbors.

Thank you again for coming down to city hall to share your ideas with our local representatives.  It really made a difference!

The Riviera Homeowners Association will be happy to host or co-host meetings in 2015 when city hall is ready to begin working out the details.  See you at the meetings!!

Judy Brunetti
Amy Josefek
Pam Popovich,   co-presidents, Riviera Homeowners Association


Next Riviera Homeowners Association Meeting 

Discussion of the new “Bristol Farms” Development

Wednesday, November 12, 7-9 PM

Residents of the Riviera and the public are invited to hear impacts anticipated by the new Legado Development (at the old Bristol Farms site) on PCH & Palos Verdes Blvd.

Although not in Torrance city limits, the development (actually in Redondo) certainly will affect Riviera residents, being just across the street.  As proposed, the 4-story (!) project would contain 180-rental units (including 9 low-income ones), plus the 110-rooms at Palos Verdes Inn, plus almost 40,000 sq feet of retail/commercial space.  It’s clear the underground parking spaces will not be nearly sufficient to accommodate all resident, hotel, retail and employee capacity needs.

This mixed-use construction would greatly increase traffic/safety issues on PCH, Riviera parking/cut-through traffic, and residence density directly across from the Riviera.  Find out what this would mean to you and what you can do about it!

The meeting will be held at Richardson Middle School, 23751 Nancy Lee Lane, Torrance CA near the corner of Newton and Calle Mayor.  Doors open at 6:30. Light refreshments will be served.


 Riviera PTA treats the Riviera community

Kudos to the Riviera PTA for inviting the neighborhood to a rockin’ and rollin’ end-of-summer Concert on September 28.  Attendance was great, as was the weather, the music, and the goodies on sale by the Riviera Class of 2015 5th-graders.   We appreciate all the hard work and dedication by the parents and teachers up at Riviera, especially when they thrill the community like this.

Riviera PTA rocks El Retiro Park

Riviera PTA rocks El Retiro Park – tunes by “Hack”


Coming Nov 6th – Parent Ed Night: “Tempering Technology with Musical Brain Builders”, presented by Sharlene Habermeyer, M.A., on the effects of music on the brain development of young children. At the Riviera Elementary cafeteria from 7-8pm.


It’s never too late to join the RHA!
Click here for membership information, including a way to check your status.
Pay your dues online, or bring a check to the Nov 12 General Meeting –
Don’t make your neighbors carry the load.


Riviera Village – Halloween Trick or Treat  Friday, October 31, 4 to 6 pm
Catalina Ave will be closed between Ave. I and S. Elena  3:30 to 7:00 pm for the annual Trick or Treat Event


View Ordinance to get hearing from City Council – Tuesday

The Torrance City Council will vote this week, Tuesday night, Oct. 21 on whether to investigate a tree/view ordinance for the Hillside Overlay  (meeting agenda).  There will be a presentation by the Planning Department on various ordinances and scenarios.  After that, the council will vote to either A) Continue discussing the matter with the public  B) Go ahead and write a draft ordinance on trees and views or C) Shelf the matter and do nothing.

This is the best chance we have had in decades to have the Torrance City Council adopt an ordinance that would give us guidelines and a fair process for resolving these conflicts!

However, the city council is not unanimously in favor of this ordinance. We have met with council members this week and we know that the vote will split on the issue. There is some opposition from city staff and manager, also.  The mayor wants to bring it to a public hearing, but it has to survive a vote on Tuesday of the whole city council–he only has one vote.

If you are interested in preserving your view, your neighborhood, your property value and maintaining good relations with your neighbors while working through view issues, it is EXTREMELY important to be at city council on Tuesday night to show your support.

Only if the council sees that the community is strongly behind this will it carry the vote.  The Homeowners Association has done all that we can do to get it to this point.  Now it is up to you, the resident, to make sure that they know this is important to you and to the neighborhood to maintain our special area and keep it as lovely as it is now.

 

This Sunday…

HackConcert2014
Thank you Riviera Elementary PTA for organizing this end of summer event!

Bring a blanket and picnic dinner for an evening of live music
with classmates, neighborsand friends!

“Hack” will be performing classic rock favorites and goodies
will be available from the Riviera Class of 2015!

*Due to parking limitations, we recommend walking or carpooling!
Additionally, please be courteous to our park neighbors

Click here for concert flyer

Come out for a rockin’ good time and support the Riviera PTA!


More info soon on the recent RHA General Meeting, future events, and neighborhood news


 

General Meeting Sept 17; New highrise comes to PCH

September General Meeting:

the drought, its impacts, and

what can be done about it

Wednesday Sept 17 7:00pm
Richardson Middle School
doors open at 6:30

This first program for 2013-14 will feature two excellent speakers to discuss the effects of the drought on our area, and to suggest ways to minimize the impact on your own home and yard, including information on drought-resistant and native California plants.

Light refreshments will be served; succulent plants will be available for sale from the Cactus Society.

Come early to pick up flyers and information, and use the opportunity to renew your membership and meet with RHA Board members and other neighbors.


New development on PCH

You may know of the proposed Legado re-development of the PCH/PV Blvd corner, including the PV Inn and the retail component including the old Bristol Farms building.  This is in Redondo Beach, not Torrance, but directly across PCH from Hollywood Riviera, which will be impacted by construction, and increased traffic.    There will be a hearing November 20 in Redondo Beach, and comments are being accepted by that city now.   The RHA Board has taken no formal position on this, but did want to bring it to residents’ attention.  For more information on this project, please visit the city website (link here).

View of proposed Legado development Source: Visual Impact Study for City of Redondo Beach

View of proposed Legado development
Source: Visual Impact Study for City of Redondo Beach

We reprint here information from the Riviera Sunset Homeowners Association, which represents the residents in the condominiums behind the project on Avenue G: 

SAY NO TO LEGADO REDONDO!

HAVE YOU HEARD THAT THE 1700 PCH (OLD BRISTOL FARMS SITE) DEVELOPMENT PLAN IS UP FOR REVIEW BY THE CITY OF REDONDO BEACH?

  • 180 APARTMENTS AT PCH/PV BL
  • INCLUDING LOW INCOME UNITS
  • MASSIVE UNDERGROUND PARKING GARAGE AT PCH/PV BL
  • INCREASED COMMERCIAL/RETAIL SPACE

JOIN US IN SAYING NO TO MORE TRAFFIC, NOISE & AIR POLLUTION IN THE RIVIERA!!

E-MAIL, FAX OR MAIL YOUR COMMENTS ON ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES BY 9/8/14 at 5:30PM TO:

Anita Kroeger, Associate Planner
415 Diamond Street, Redondo Beach, CA 90277
kroeger@redondo.org or Fax: 310-372-8021

 


We hope you have received (or are about to) the September issue of the Riviera Reporter with even more news of the Riviera.  We thank our advertisers for helping offset the cost of this newsletter, which the RHA believes is an important means of keeping neighbors informed.   Most of the cost of this and all the other efforts of the RHA are dependent on your voluntary membership dues, and we THANK YOU for those!

To view the current Riviera Reporter, click here, and also please take the time to peruse other pages of this hollywoodriviera.org website (also supported by your dues).  One way to stay involved is to renew your membership.  Make your community the best it can be – get involved!

May 2014 General Meeting brings news of a safer, more neighborly Riviera

 The May 14 General Meeting was well attended by residents, and for good reason.   A rash of burglaries (and robberies) in the Riviera and nearby neighborhoods had residents deeply concerned about safety and what measures to take.  A team of officers took time out to address the issue with statistics, department reactions, and advice for keeping lives and property safe.

 RHAGenlMtg2014May (TPD)
A rapt audience hears about crime and deterrence
RHAGenlMtg2014May (crowd)


The RHA also introduced Marquis Olison, representing the new neighborhood social media site Nextdoor.com, who described how the neighborhood could draw together (and become safer) by using new online tools to stay in touch, share ideas, and promote local activities.  Since then, the number of Nextdoor subscribers in the Riviera has grown to over 300 subscribers. After more than a year in existence, it’s clear that Nextdoor is a valuable tool for making the Riviera a more close-knit, vibrant community.

Spreading the word on Nextdoor.com

Spreading the word on Nextdoor.com

 For more information on Nextdoor.com, visit their website and consider signing up.

 

The RHA was pleased to present this year’s scholarship award winners, South High seniors Christina Bitten and Anna Spallino.  One of the greatest pleasures of the RHA is to be able to recognize the achievements of outstanding seniors each year.  Congratulations to these fine young graduates!

2014 scholarship winners Anna Spallino and Christina Bitten

2014 scholarship winners
Anna Spallino and Christina Bitten

 

Finally, the RHA Board thanked Judy Brunetti for her 2 terms as president, the many (and late) hours advocating on behalf of Riviera residents, and her dedication to the city of Torrance.  Job well done!

Outgoing President, Judy Brunetti, accepts gifts from board member Cindy Constantino on behalf of her grateful RHA Board.

Outgoing President, Judy Brunetti, accepts gifts from board member Cindy Constantino on behalf of her grateful RHA Board.

 

 Prepare for news about upcoming RHA and neighborhood happenings.
Have a safe and enjoyable last weeks of summer!