Hillside

Judy Seckler VERDUGO MOUNTAINS -- When Bernice Brown first moved into her canyon home 34 years ago, the coyotes kept to their neck of the woods. In a recent letter, the homeowner told the News-Press that coyotes have now become a major predator in her neighborhood. "I live in fear on my own property," she wrote. On July 19 at 9 p.m., Brown's mini-dachshund and treasured family pet, Krissy, was mauled in the backyard. Brown dashed out to the back of the house with a bicycle horn after hearing frantic barking.

Buck Wargo CITY HALL -- A home under construction on a hillside above Glendale Community College isn't getting high marks for beauty -- and that may be enough to prompt City Council action. The home at 1740 Las Flores Drive owned by Raymond Scott of Culver City has come under fire from some Glendale council members and homeowner activists who use it as an example that the intent of the 1993 hillside ordinance to restrict development is being violated.

LOS ANGELES — Lawyers representing seven Glendale residents suing the city for $5 million over a 2005 mudslide laid the groundwork Thursday for their contention that the city was responsible for the damage. A geologist testified in Los Angeles Superior Court that the fragile geology of the hillside along Gladys Drive and Glenmore Boulevard was consistent throughout the whole hillside, not just in the area of the mudslide. Residents' lawyers say that proves that it was not one weak spot on the hillside that caused the Jan. 10, 2005, mudslide, but instead the cause was the huge volume of water that overflowed city-built curbs and gutters.

Coyote problem is a matter of perspective Writing in your valuable community forum, Robert Morrison reissues the tired and irrelevant save the coyotes argument. If we are going to deal with coyotes in our community we need to start by an understanding of the animal. Coyotes are wild animals. To survive they must track and kill prey. Coyotes are carnivores existing completely on the raw meat of their victims. The meat is pulled from the carcass and devoured from their kill.

Chuck Sambar The La Canada Planning Commission had a standing room-only audience at its June 14 meeting. Concerned residents showed up to express their concern for a proposed conditional-use permit for a house to be built on an unstable and dangerous hillside that wreaked havoc, threatened lives and property and caused extensive damage and loss to residents during the recent rains. The planning staff presented their report on the proposed conditional-use permit to build the house in question and they recommended its approval by the Planning Commission on the grounds that the application meets all laws and local ordinances.

Do you agree for the council's push for downtown housing and development? With proper planning and density limits, downtown housing a can be a positive trend to revitalize our downtown. Smart growth, not growth at any price, is the key. No new residential or commercial development projects should be approved without plans to ease the traffic and parking problems they create. As a general proposition, downtown housing will result in less car trips than with commercial or office use. Should the development restrictions in the hillsides be tightened, loosened or kept the same?

Robert Chacon Several park improvements, including curbing erosion at Memorial Park and building a park at Rockridge Terrace, could be funded Monday following a City Council vote. Though mostly a formality, the city is expected to approve four resolutions that authorize the city to file three applications for State Department of Parks and Recreation grants, and to request funding for a new grant. The grants have been awarded, but an order is needed for the state to begin distributing $338,000 in funding that will be used for park improvements.

I must reply to the letter from William Slaughter (“Not a big fan of a sign of the times,” Jan. 27). Of course others are offended by the huge signs on the hillside above the freeways! No. 1, who actually owns that undeveloped property? No. 2, did Glendale completely do away with all their sign ordinances? No. 3, when can we expect every square inch of our hills to be covered with various signs? The Realtor did not do herself a favor by throwing up that sign.

Buck Wargo CITY HALL -- The Glendale City Council will hold a hearing May 9 to determine whether a resident can build a hillside home. Edward Simonian wants to build a home at 2632 Kennington Drive on a lot that measures 6,229 square feet. City codes require a minimum of 7,500 square feet. Simonian also needs a variance because he wants a 4-foot setback from the street when a 15-foot setback is required. The slope on the property at 63.5% also exceeds city codes.