e.letter

May 4, 2015

President's Message

As you walk around the community lately, you may notice something a little different. Utility boxes that were once cold, dusty, and gray are beginning to bloom with warm, vibrant colors.

Over the next month you will see artists working on 17 utility boxes along Colorado and Eagle Rock Boulevards. This mini-mural artwork is a part of a neighborhood beautification project which Councilmember Jose Huizar, the Eagle Rock Neighborhood Council, and TERA collaborated on.

TERA's role in this project is an example of some of the not-so-visible ways that TERA serves the community. While the Council Office and the Neighborhood Council provided the impetus for the art project, TERA used it's non-profit status to apply for the funding from the City to pay the artists a stipend and will act as the fiscal agent for the project by administering those funds.

This is not the first time that TERA has acted in this capacity. We have agreed to administer the funds for pursuing a proposed dog park in Eagle Rock. In addition, we have contributed funding to the ensure watering and maintenance for most of the 272 street trees that were recently planted in Eagle Rock and Highland Park.

My point is that there are times when TERA is very visible, as with our support of Take Back the Boulevard, our opposition to Scholl Canyon expansion, and our sponsoring of community events such as our Candidate Forums and State of the Town events. But, there are also times when TERA is working behind the scenes, doing the little things to help local projects and initiatives to succeed.

I hope that you will keep that in mind as we begin to rev up our membership drive in June. It is through your support and membership that we able to serve the community.

Speaking of...

Please Join TERA or Renew Your Membership
Each month we include a brief blurb about renewing your membership. But it occurs to me that there are a number of people on our mailing list that are not necessarily TERA members. The question for you is, why don't you join TERA? I assume you value the information that we provide and/or the issues that we work on. To do that it takes financial resources. Most of the resources come from membership dues. For as little as $25, you can become a TERA member and support our cause and receive great membership benefits.

And for those of you who have not renewed your membership, why not? You know the work that we do and have supported us in the past. Why don't you do it now? If you have simply forgotten, take a moment now to renew that membership.

If you want more information about TERA membership or want to receive a membership packet, please send an email to Marina Rimer, our membership coordinator at membership@tera90041.org.

_______________________________________

Greg Merideth, President

In This Issue

President's Message

Quick Links

Become a Member

Take Back the Boulevard Update

Quick Links

Join TERA

More About TERA

Subscribe to the TERA e.letter

Visit the e.letter archives

Visit the TERA website

Become a Member

Membership Has Benefits!

Discounts are available for TERA Members at participating merchants (see list below.) Look for the TERA Membership Decals at merchant locations. Just show your active membership card. Click on http://www.tera90041.org to see the member benefits offered by each merchant. If you are a merchant and would like to participate in this program, which includes free advertising in the e.letter, please email us at president@tera90041.org.

Support TERA - Become a Member: Join now at http://www.tera90041.org. Memberships begin at only $15.

Take Back the Boulevard Update

Phase II

The Take Back the Boulevard (TBTB) committee continues to work on their grant application to Metro's Active Transportation Program (ATP). The grant, if approved, will provide funding for additional improvements to Colorado Boulevard with the goal of making it a "Complete Street", on that provides more safe, comfortable, and convenient access to community destinations and public places, whether you are walking, driving, bicycling, or taking public transportation. The Complete Streets concept is one that is taking hold nationally. To date, over 700 agencies at the local, regional, and state levels have adopted Complete Streets policies. And, last week, the Safe Streets Act of 2015, a bill with bipartisan support, was introduced in Congress which would require all new federally-funded transportation projects to use a Complete Streets approach to planning, designing, and building roads.

So, the proposed enhancements to Colorado Boulevard are in keeping with current transportations policy's and trends. Those planned improvements on Colorado would include:

Medians for the western end of Colorado Boulevard
More turn pockets in existing medians and in the new ones
Additional crosswalks
Modifications to the intersection curbs to make them more pedestrian friendly
Better pedestrian lighting
Improved bus stops with better seats, trash cans, and shade
Better signage and additional monuments to better identify our community

To stay informed on this effort please visit TakeBacktheBlvd.org.

Land Use

Colorado Boulevard Specific Plan

There has been continued progress on the proposed amendment to the Colorado Boulevard Specific Plan (CBSP) to allow longer hours of business operation continues to progress. On April 9th, the City Planning Commission (CPC) held a heard on the proposed amendment. And, on April 28th the CPC issued a determination which recommended approval of the amendment.

The next steps are that the amendment will be heard by the the Planning and Land Use Management (PLUM) committee of the City Council, which is chaired by our Councilmember, Jose Huizar. After the hearing, PLUM will issue a recommendation on the amendment. The PLUM recommendation will then be heard by the full City Council. The City Council will then either approve of deny the amendment, with the PLUM recommendation and the Councilmember's support holding great weight.

With anticipated PLUM and City Council approval of the amendment, it is possible that businesses in the CBSP area will be able to have longer hours before summer begins.

Super A Closing; Sprouts Coming

According to the Cypress Retail Group, the owners of the Eagle Rock Plaza Shopping Center (at Eagle Rock Blvd. & Yosemite Dr.), have announced that the Super A market in this plaza will be closing in August. The grocery store will be remodeled and will reopen as as another grocery store, Sprout Farmers Market around spring of 2016. In addition to the new store, the entire plaza will be remodeled. Thanks to TERA member Jane Demian for the her diligence in getting updated information from Cypress.

2530 Colorado Boulevard - Proposed Mixed Use Project

This is the current site of the Sizzler restaurant near Colorado and Sierra Villa. TERA recently met with the owner of this property and they informed us that the Sizzler will be closing in approximately one year and that the current plan is to replace it with a mixed use development. Right now, there are no architectural plans. But, per the current zoning, the developer can build a 14-unit residential property by right and 19 units with a density bonus for adding some affordable housing units. However, it is possible that the developer could seek a zone change, which could more than double the size of the project. This project is in the beginning stages and we will keep you apprised of new developments.

1600 Campus Road - Occidental Full Liquor License

Occidental College recently made a presentation to the TERA board stating their intention to apply for a full liquor license. At first blush this sounded like it might be a bad idea - mixing liquor and college students.

However, their presentation clarified the reasoning behind their request. The proposed liquor license is not for a campus bar and the college will not be serving alcohol in the dining room. Also there will not be any cash and carry sales.

Instead the reason for asking for a license for the entire campus is:

1) Liquor licenses are tied to a street address and the entire Occidental Campus shares one street address - 1600 Campus Road. The license would be for 1600 Campus Road but but not to other college-owned properties such as Samuelson Alumni Center.

2) Occidental already serves alcohol for private affairs such as wedding receptions, fundraising, and alumni events. The way they currently do this is by going to Alcohol Beverage Contract (ABC) and securing a one-day alcohol license, or asking parties to supply their own liquor to be served by Oxy's TIPS-trained bartenders.

A full alcohol license would allow Oxy to forgo the bureaucracy of obtaining one-day permits and it would also allow them to purchase alcohol wholesale providing cost savings to them.

Given that the liquor license is primarily intended for special events at which Oxy already serves alcohol, and that it is not not intended to make alcohol more readily available to students, the TERA board has voted to support Occidental's application.

1401 Eagle Vista Drive - Proposed Small Lot Housing Project

S&L Acquisitions (owner) and Green City Housing (architect) are working on a proposed a small lot housing project at 1401 Eagle Vista Drive. The project would consist of a three-story building with 6 units of approximately 1,750 square feet (as opposed to 7 units by right or 10 units with a density bonus) with 2-space parking garages for each unit.

The units are intended to be sold individually and will operate under covenants, codes, and restrictions (CC&Rs) that will be enforced by a maintenance improvement district (similar in function to a homeowners association). Part of the CC&Rs will include language to require common trash pickup (no individual trash to the curb) and to require that garages be kept clear and available for parking.

According to the principals, they have already done outreach to prospective neighbors, the Council Office, and the Neighborhood Council. They also presented their proposal to TERA. After considering the fact that the proposed project is actually less than what the developer could do by-right and determining that the developer had made efforts to reach out to the community and mitigate negative impacts, TERA has decided to support this project with the caveat that there be sufficient overhead space in the garage for storage in addition to the parked vehicles. This will hopefully mitigate the anticipated negative impact on street parking in the neighborhood and keep the development in character with the surrounding neighborhood.

Around Town

Museums of the Arroyo (MOTA) Day - May 17, 2015 - Free admission to six museums!

Explore great architecture, historical discoveries, family fun and entertainment at six local museums all for free at Museums of the Arroyo (MOTA) Day on May 17, 2015. Learn Victorian dances, make adobe bricks, check out a Civil War encampment, climb into a retired LAPD helicopter, attend a Rancho fashion show and discover what continues to make the Arroyo Seco a bustling, vibrant arts-driven community that crosses neighborhoods and social boundaries.

Free shuttles connect all museums so visitors can park their car once to experience the arts, culture and history of the Arroyo.

MOTA Day museums will collectively participate in the "From Out of the Vault" exhibit which will showcase an item that has rarely been on display or ever seen by the public.

With so much to do and see - and only a few hours to do it - visitors are encouraged to best plan their visits. MOTA Day takes place from noon to 5 p.m. with last entry at 4 p.m.

For more information visit: www.museumsofthearroyo.com.

New and Renewing Members

A big thank you to our most recent new and renewing members.

$100 Sponsor:

Bruce Mitchell

$35 Household-Family:

James Angell*

Raymond & Barbara Delphenis*

Paul & Claudette Harrison

Norman & Alice Hsu

$25 Individual:

Dori Armstrong