Residents:Save Our Paradise

About 20 residents and neighbors of the Mountain Oaks area met late Tuesday afternoon to walk through their neighborhood with representatives of the Sierra Club and Glendale-Crescenta Volunteers Organized In Conserving the Environment (V.O.I.C.E.). The residents are concerned about a recently proposed development for the area that would include a high school and condominium complex.

"Where can you find something like this?," asked resident Leslie Boyce.

"It's a hidden treasure," added resident Jennifer Meyers.

The seclusion offered by the 40-acre parcel is what residents are concerned about losing if the development is allowed to move forward.

The property is located in the Glendale annex region, adjacent to Crescenta Valley Park and Whiting Woods. Currently, 12 homes are scattered throughout the natural surroundings of mountains and oak trees. The land was recently purchased by M. Jorjrzian Investments. Their proposal includes the building of a private Armenian high school and several condominiums.

"We bought the land in May," said Yeznik Kazandjian, attorney for the investment company. "Basically, we want to build on the flat area and donate the hillside to Santa Monica [Mountain Conservancy] or the City of Glendale."

However the plans have yet to be completed and residents have only a sketchy idea of what is intended. What they do believe is that the impact of a sizable development would affect every home owner, specifically those that own the existing 12 residences hidden throughout Mountain Oaks.

David Meyers, along with other Mountain Oak residents and neighbors, is in the process of forming an organization to help save the mountainous area they call home.

"The acreage they [M.Jorjrzian Investments] said they will give back doesn't make sense," Meyers said. He referred to a map of the area and admitted to having difficulty in understanding the company's figures relating to the acreage on the map.

"We'd like to take a look at what is being proposed," said Fred Dong, chairperson for the Crescenta Valley Sierra Club Group. "It [the development] does concern us, and we would like to see more information."

All residents and neighbors participating in Tuesday's walk-through voiced their concern on many issues including fire, safety, traffic and environmental impacts.