UPDATED: We have a more-coherent link to the Altadena Community Standards District rules, a pdf copy if you don't want to read it online, and Sussy Nemer sent in some corrections which were incorporated in the story.
County code enforcers don't drive around Altadena looking for problems -- they react to the complaints of residents. And, many of Altadena's code enforcement issues can be traced directly to its own community standards district.
Pictured: Sussy Nemer answers questions at the
March ACONA meeting. Photo by Elliot Gold.
That's the message that Sussy (pronounced "Susie") Nemer, field deputy for Supv. Michael Antonovich, and planning and zoning consultant Carolyn Seitz gave to the Altadena Coalition of Neighborhood Associations (ACONA). meeting Tuesday night at the Altadena Main Library.
The wide-ranging discussion, which touched on liquor stores, party houses, cash advance storefronts, and the sheriff's department, seemed to always land on the idea that it's time to update the local community standards district (CSD). Nemer said that a CSD overlays county zoning laws -- a CSD can in fact be more restrictive than the county, if the community desires it. "Some deal with mansionization, some with signage," Nemer said, but a community always has the discretion to revisit and rewrite its CSD. For example, Altadena's CSD recently included the hillside ordinance adopted last year.
Nemer said that her office met with the Altadena Town Council and the chamber of commerce in December to discuss the possibility of updating the codes, particularly where they pertain to businesses on Lake. Nemer said that there were many complaints about the existing codes, including signage regulations and others that some felt made it difficult to open a new business.
"What we're going to be doing is holding some community meetings to get input on what you'd like to see in those codes," Nemer said, looking for "consensus in the community."
Altadena town councilman Greg Middleton said that a CSD update can be used to discourage uses that a business area does not want, such as storefront churches.
Sometimes residents will not want to complain, fearing retaliation. Both Nemer and Seitz said that they frequently functioned as "official complainant" for nuisance abatement issues, and would accept confidentiality.
Altadena town councilmember Diane Marcussen said that councilmembers were also a good place to lodge complaints.
Pictured: Carolyn Seitz. Photo by Elliot Gold.
Liquor stores: Nemer said that most liquor stores in Altadena are grandfathered in -- they predate the CSD and current zoning codes, and don't require a conditional use permit which a new liquor store would require. They are still subject to sign ordinances and state Alcoholic Beverage Control regulations. If a new liquor store were to open, it would have to file for a CUP, and would require a public hearing.
There used to be a lot of complaints about local liquor stores, particularly RJ's on Woodbury Ave., but the business license commission put a lot of restrictions on them, Nemer said. Complaints on liquor stores are down, Nember said -- "they're not causing as much of a rub as they used to." However, liquor stores are not allowed to have a "mass of signs" on their buildings. Complaints are given to regional planning, which will investigate.
Coffee Gallery: Nemer said that the latest kerfluffle at the Coffee Gallery was the latest in a long history at that location. The building, which has almost no parking, originally was just a coffee house and didn't need to get a CUP to operate. Later, they added the Backstage for live entertainment, and split into two separate businesses: the Backstage concert venue (run by Bob Stane) and the coffeehouse, owned by Julie Sandoval. (Correction from Sussy Nemer: Live entertainment requires a CUP and the appropriate business license.)
Nemer said that a business license inspector was visiting to check the coffeehouse at 7 PM on a Friday and saw the live entertainment going on in the coffeehouse. The coffeehouse was given a notice because their current business license does not allow live entertainment. She said they can HAVE live entertainment in the front, but need to have a license to do so.
Nemer said that Sandoval, the business license commission, and the department of regional planning would be meeting soon to iron out the licensing problems. "The Coffee Gallery is a good neighbor, we don't get that complaint anymore," Nemer said. "They're not being targeted, we're trying to help them through the process."
About 40 people attended the meeting
at the Library Community Room.
Noise and parties: Carolyn Seitz said that residents needed to call the sheriff's department more than once if necessary to complain about a loud party. Sometimes the stereo would be turned town, after the sheriff visited, then turned back up again. If a later visit is warranted, then the sheriff can do more, Seitz said. 'They can do more if called back a second or third time."
Nemer said that several cities and counties are passing loud noise or "social hosting" ordinances, but "our attorneys are fairly confident that a lot of these ordinances couldn't hold up in a court of law." ("Social hosting" is explained as adults providing alcoholic drinks to underage children, usually on the theory that it's better they drink under controlled conditions and not hide it.)
RV vehicle parking: Altadena streets, particularly Altadena Drive and Mariposa Street, are frequently used as free storage by RV owners who just have to move the vehicle before 72 hours is up. Seitz said that the only part of RV parking that was enforced is if people were actually living in their vehicles on the street.
Altadena town councilman Gino Sund said that an ordinance was pending to allow no oversize vehicle parking in the street without a permit. Free permits would be issued to residents who had to move their vehicle into a street overnight. Nemer said that county public works was preparing a draft ordinance, which would be subject to a public hearing before being sent for approval.
Empty business lots: The perennially-uncompleted building project on Lincoln Avenue and Altadena Drive is now in bankruptcy, Seitz said. As for the WaMu Crater on Lake and Calavaras, Nemer said that it was a perennial problem to the county as well -- the owner will clean it up every six months or so, and "he's proposed everything under the sun since, and he doesn't follow up on anything ... it's a little hard to get him to comply."
Sheriff: several discussions involved Altadena's sheriff station. Altadena Sheriff Capt. Steven McLean said that he was holding his lieutenants responsible for how the desk treats residents. There is also a policy that if you ask the desk for the watch commander, you get the watch commander. He also said he requires his officers to audit the desk once or twice a week to see how public interaction is handled.
McLean also said the station started a Facebook page, but it was taken down because it hadn't gone up the chain of command to headquarters.
RESOURCES
Altadena Community Standards District
Faithful reader Nancy Rothwell has converted the Altadena CSD text to a pdf document here.
Antonovich's field office: 626-356-5407 (ask for Sussy, Judy, or Melody)
Carolyn Seitz: 626-345-1233
