The past and future of the May-Lane Motel

To the collective sigh of many in the community, Maynard Hine sent a letter to the Crescenta Valley Town Council in October 2001 to explain his plans to sell his beloved May-Lane Motel. For as long as most people can remember, the northwest corner of Briggs Avenue and Foothill Boulevard has always been the May-Lane, and for many of us, the sight of the little motor hotel has been a comforting reminder of a quaint past and simpler times. But progress marches on, even in La Crescenta. Developers view our older properties on Foothill and our stable community and see new possibilities and potential profits, signaling that the boulevard is set to change.

Fortunately, the May-Lane property, as it will most likely always be known, is a conditional use permit property, the one and only on the entire stretch of unincorporated Foothill Boulevard. A CUP land use can only be approved for building permit after the developer has satisfied the process of a public hearing.

Thus, Hine asked the Crescenta Valley Town Council what kind of development they would prefer to have on this coveted piece of property. Overwhelmingly, the council rejected a strip mall, high-density residential, as well as a gas station or car repair establishment. They requested a town center/library/youth center or a family restaurant, not fast food.

The council also cited the need for some open space at that corner or some interesting feature, since it is the eastern entrance into La Crescenta. Many were saddened at the announcement of the potential sale.

In March 2002, the May-Lane was sold to Tony Talisse, a La Cañada Flintridge-based developer. The county immediately advised him to meet with the Town Council and the council asked him to meet with the Foothill Design Committee. In a very preliminary roundtable discussion, the FDC reminded Talissse of the council's wishes and aspirations for that most-important corner. In turn, the developer asked the committee what we would like to see there, and while it is not the purview of the FDC to recommend uses, we did offer a number of suggestions that we thought would be successful, needed in La Crescenta, and energizing to both the boulevard and the local economy.