October/November/December 2014 Newsletter
Transcript
October/November/December 2014 Newsletter
MONTE NIDO VALLEY COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION A Dark Sky Community E-NEWSLETTER Oct/Nov/Dec 2014 WHAT’‛S IN THIS ISSUE Thanks to planning team for a terrific Monte Nido October BBQ and Square Dance Local land development on Piuma—updates and legal fund to oppose 2015 MNVCA Board of Directors election results Thanks to Monte Nido Fire Council Minutes of Oct. and Nov. 2014 Board meetings Thanks for reviving the Monte Nido Dinner and Square Dance tradition Many thanks to Ilda Jacobsen who headed up an outstanding planning committee for the Square Dance and BBQ dinner event October 11. It got great reviews from all who were able to attend. It was a big deal for the Community to have the event revived after a lapse of the tradition last year. Congratulations to Mark Mehner 2014 winner of the Golden Spur Award announced at the BBQ Event. Mark won the voting from a field of super stars all including Carrie Baltin Mark Mehner Jo Powe Suze Randall Jill Reiss Joan Slimocosky Don Wallace Ilda’s “Nextdoor Monte Nido” summary and her thanks to many of those who helped with the BBQ Dinner and Square Dance is reprinted below “The community brought the house down with their energy and enthusiasm and pies. Big group hug. Special thanks to our friends at Saddle Peak who donated all the lovely chairs that allowed us to rest our weary legs after some raucous promenading. Our local Calabasas Starbucks was kind to donate the coffee and all of the fixins'. Doug Rosen was a gem for contributing his dumpster for collection. The Hardie family comes through each year, allowing us the power from their home to light the meadow and ensure no toes are stepped upon while we do-si-do. And, of course, thank you to the Fleeman's for sharing the meadow with everyone in the hood who contributed their time, effort, ideas, muscle, and funds to make it all come together. Until the next big thing in Monte Nido!” Vintage Properties Development on Piuma Rd The long saga of development of lots on Piuma near the first hairpin turn continues with the developer getting an initial approval from the County Planning group. The MNVCA Board has voted to oppose the plans as they currently exist. A legal fund has been established to enable our voices to be heard in the County Planning and permitting processes that are to come. Email was sent out Dec. 3, 2014 to the Monte Nido Community from MNVCA to provide background info and solicit donations to the newly established legal fund to oppose this development. The Addendum to this Newsletter reprints that email communication. Please review the information there and consider donating to this fund. Send email or call one of the Board members if you have questions. Thanks for Monte Nido Fire Safe Council We cannot thank enough the leaders and supporters of the local efforts by the Monte Nido Fire Safe Council to educate our residents on how to prepare for fire season and how to keep ourselves, and our homes, animals, and property as safe as possible. Mark Mehner’s reminders and tips on Nextdoor Monte Nido are memorable and invaluable. Jo Powe and others have worked tirelessly to organize fire safety seminars by fire fighting professionals and to sponsor hands-on demonstrations of safe/best practices at local residences. Suze Randall has checked out horse owners in the area to make sure that trailer space is available for evacuations and worked to match horses that would need space to trailers that had space so that all could be accommodated. As you will read in the Minutes from the Nov. meeting plans were set for Les Hardie, Tracie Bunetta, Jo Powe, and Rodger Reiss to attend a Fire Risk Assessor Workshop to be certified to do local assessments for local homes. Thanks and thanks again to all of you. 2015 MNVCA Board Members Elected at the November meeting The following roster of Board members was elected to MNVCA at the November meeting. Carrie Baltin…President Home: 818 224-4696 825 Crater Oak Drive [email protected] Joan Slimocosky Home: 818-591-1082 Vice President 25632 Buckhorn Dr. [email protected] Judy Goldin Treasurer Cell 818-983-1910 1101 Cold Canyon Road Mailing Address: PO Box 2765, Malibu, 90265 [email protected] Jill Reiss Secretary Home: 818-222-1995 1066 Meadows End Drive Fax: 818-222-1675 [email protected] Cell: 818-653-7279 Gary Wooller 805-375-6599 949 Crater Oak Drive [email protected] Mary-Helen Young 818-222-6762 550 Live Oak Circle Drive [email protected] Ann Monahan Home: 818-222-7239 505 Live Oak Circle Drive Cell: 818 421 5159 [email protected] Dana Chidekel [email protected] Ilda Jacobsen [email protected] 818-223-8055 home 212-991-8998 cell Maria & Radu Ioan 25659 Whittemore Dr. [email protected] (310) 699-1190 cell (818) 914-6014 home Sally Livingston 890 Camino Colibri [email protected] 818-222-2666 310-993-5777 Alicia Gonzalez 25736 Dark Creek Road [email protected] 818 222 5826 Megan Wolflick 681 Cold Canyon Road 818-512-9943 [email protected] Minutes of the Oct 2014 Board Meeting Note on Local Trail Use Community members are encouraged to make use of local trails like the Lost Canyon Loop and Cold Canyon Trail for hiking and horseback riding. To help ensure we keep access as well as to share your fun, you might want to document your hikes and rides with photos and posts on social media. Thank you MNVCA Members Board members and community volunteers organize annual events such as July 4 celebrations, October Square Dance, and Holiday Pot Lucks as well as the Adopt-AHighway cleanup, Fire Safe Council, the Bulletin Board and this Newsletter. They represent our interests at Las Virgenes Homeowners Federation and at County Supervisor and Coastal Commission meetings to protect our rural character and our trails. There will be a membership drive starting soon to encourage all our local residents to join MNVCA in 2015. In anticipation of some increased costs, the annual membership fee will be raised from $50 to $75 starting in 2015 ($25 for first time members). You can send in your membership (checks made out to MNVCA) addressed to MNVCA at P.O. Box 8054, Calabasas 91372. Judy Goldin, Treasurer MNVCA board meeting 10/14/14 at the home of Suze Randall and Humphrey Knight Called to order at 7:09 PM Present from the Board: Carrie Baltin, Judy Goldin, Joan Slimocosky, Gary Wooller, Maria Ioan, Jill Reiss, Ann Monahan, (arrived later: Ilda Jacobsen, Dana Chidekel, Alicia Gonzalez) Present from the community: About 40 residents First Presentation was from Osgood/Vintage Properties: Matt Osgood with Brian Blain, Bill McKiven, David Ko, Amy Weltmer (last names possibly not spelled correctly) Lots for this sub-development were approved for Quaker/Ross around 1983/84. The tract map was finalized in 1986. Q/R got approval to develop in ’83, ran into difficulty developing the 5 lots around Randall’s property, but he didn’t want to abandon his plans to develop them. But then Quaker/Ross filed for bankruptcy and the lots were foreclosed in 2007. There were 22 original lots. One sold privately and has been developed. Vintage acquired the remainder from the foreclosing bank. From the time of purchase, Osgood/Vintage were not planning to develop those 5 difficult lots. Vintage subsequently met with LA County, MNVCA, and Coastal to share their development vision. Vintage discussed the possibility of dedicating the 5 problematic lots to open space, contingent on getting 15 lots approved. Vintage presented elevations in the Wallace Neff and Cliff May styles of architecture, along with square footages they thought would be appropriate for those 15 lots, and rolled that into their settlement agreement with LA County. The lots are a minimum of 1 acre. Vintage asserts that the square footages of the current plans are within 1 percent of the original sq. foot proposals he brought to MNVCA in 2011. All oak trees will be preserved and the setbacks are “generous”. Elevations and drawings were presented by David and Brian. At the first meeting with MNVCA in 2011, David shared his vision as an “antimcmansion” architect. He started designing homes in Rolling Hills that are sensitive to the land. David Ko provided some background on his architectural inspirations: Cliff May was a 1930s architect with whom David worked before he died. David feels he understands May’s philosophy. Many of these lots have oak trees. In sensitivity to the land, his plans avoid oak trees. David developed and shared a map which indicates locations on the parcels where there are trees and seepage pits for septic – locations where development must be avoided. He designed footprints to negotiate between them, so homes will have angles and wings to take advantage of views and avoid trees and pits. No two floor plans have identical footprints (each home has a unique footprint to negotiate the limits of that lot). Steps have also been incorporated in homes so contours of the land are incorporated into house, (the house hugs the land rather than creating a flat pad for house). Ko shared several images and books to illustrate his philosophy, including Sunset Ranch Houses, a book from 1940s and 50s. Designs of Wallace Neff, the architect of Gillette Ranch and other adobe ranches in Ojai, and Frank Lloyd Wright were also imitated. Will Rogers State Park house is among designs he likes. Another is William Hart, who was a celebrity and cowboy and whose homes were casual, simple, and rustic in nature home. These projects became state landmarks and add character to beautiful locations. Rather than stately mansions in MN, they want homes that are organic in nature. Ko wants to “take stiffness out of homes”. The plans for MN have limited second floor square footages, for more organic, ground-hugging architecture, to avoid a boxy structure. Homes will have a low silhouette with 9-foot ceilings and no raised, 2-story interior volumes. No more than 33 percent of each home will be above ground floor. (However, garage square footages of about 1600 square feet are not included in this ratio. So each home actually has greater single story square footage when garages are factored in). Many Cliff May houses have limited roof spans, 38 – 40 feet maximum roof span. This will keep the rooflines down. And they will keep the pitch relatively shallow. Because this is a high fire zone location they want to use materials sensitive to that. And they are trying to pick materials that achieve an aesthetic from bygone eras. Possibly they will use treated heavy lumber and shake light roof material to be fire and termite resistant. All building must be on existing pads – they cannot spread the house outside the existing buildable pad/zone. They “did the best they can” to spread houses apart. On 2 lots the pads are close, about 20 feet apart, but they inherited them and can’t change those. Most other homes are “really far apart”. Because the grade climbs, the garages will be 4 feet lower than the house, so garage level is stepped down. The average home size = 4500 sq. ft. (exclusive of garage square footages). Lots 1 and 17 will have Wallace Neff style designs, complementary to nature and setting, with a tower element like Gillette ranch, in board and batten, working ranch equestrian style. Third floor towers with cantilever decks were redesigned for the towers to be about 4 feet lower than originally planned. The lots are sunken, where ground level is below the street. To compensate for that negative feng shui (it’s difficult to sell sunken houses), the towers give those houses a territorial view. The designs have limited second floors and then travel up to a loft. Osgood/Vintage feel they have developed exactly what they originally presented at the first two meetings with this group. They have progressed from hand drawing to computer with 1 percent discrepancy in average footage. Q & A session followed, moderated by Jo Powe. Q - Powe asked Osgood to summarize the status on all 15 lots A - Submitting applications to build in a 3-phase program. The LCP has been certified and the likelihood is it will have jurisdiction as building proceeds. Q - Shari Pevsner re: EIR – was there concern about watershed? A - Powe suggested that with the limited time we should focus our questions on the specific plot plans rather than getting into any discussion about the environmental documentation. She told Pevsner she was happy to talk with her about that directly. Q – What is the total number of lots? A – It was originally a 22-lot tract. Osgood has 15 + 1 from a private party. Lot 5 was previously built. 5 lots are being dedicated to open space so it will be possible to build 16 lots. Q – What are the red dots on map? A - Borings for septic leach fields Q – What land value/property value price points are being planned? A - They want to make money and believe they will get higher prices with thoughtful floor plans and elevations. There is no firm commitment at this time, but they hope for “mid 2s plus”. Ko believes that aesthetic of architecture helps hold value. They don’t like Rasmussen styles. They believe their product will enhance property values. Q – Joan Slimocosky - Had they driven around MN’s old sections before they designed homes? Does this vision correspond to that? A – There’s a mixture of home styles here in MN. This aesthetic is consistent with topography here. Ko believes these designs match the character of MN. To sell a home today the floor plan has to meet today’s demand. That’s why people buy newer homes, rather than older homes. Need big closet and modern master bath to sell home in today’s lifestyle. Q – Did Osgood reach out to MN on his own, or because Supervisor Yaroslavsky’s office directed you to? A - Does it matter if they initiated it if they felt it was important? Osgood says they really reached out to community. Q – Apart from layouts on individual lots, how do they crossover and impact on backbone trail? A - Lots 8-12 are dedicated to open space Q - What about impact on lower backbone as it rises behind the homes? A – To extent there are pads, there will be homes. Q – Brent Baltin – Distance across the living room where the meeting was held = 16 feet. So 30-foot setbacks will be right on the road. How will this impact housing values? A - ??? Comment: Kim Lamorie – Under the new LCP, these are not preserving the characteristic of MN neighborhood. We never had 15 houses like this in mind when we fought to preserve character of Monte Nido. There are very specific guidelines in the LCP, which are not met by these plans. Q – Are the plans that have been submitted to County here tonight? Yehuda Netanel wants to see them. A – They were not among the papers that were presented. Comments from Yehuda Netanel - The recollection of this community and committee re: the size of this project, reflected in our minutes, is that square footages were much smaller. We knew Osgood acquired the lots during the recession at value pricing. We were told the houses would be modest. Market forces have now changed, allowing for houses that can sell at greater prices. And, the community does not like the way 5 lots for open space are being held hostage to approval of the rest of project. This community helped Osgood get the lots for free or at value from the bank. Osgood’s letter to Les Hardie is evidence of agreement that those 5 lots will not be developed. A - Osgood says those lots are developable and have value. Brian, from CA Pacific Homes offered an apology. He believes they should and could have met periodically with MNVCA as development progressed. They probably erred after they met with us the first 2 times. If they had shown us through progression that they stuck with their word there wouldn’t be misunderstandings tonight. Brian says these are the same documents they originally presented to us – same square footages and designs. He admits developers don’t have great credibility and believability about their word. Their reputation is everything – he asserts his company had been ranked #1 in CA for customer service and other categories until the ranking companies disappeared during the recession. His perspective is that they have not misrepresented anything. any additional setback on that size lot. The smallest house will go on that lot. Carrie Baltin read from Sept 2011 letter written by Osgood to Les Hardie, indicating questions of size and setbacks would be further discussed and agreed to as planning proceeded. This never happened. Q – follow up (Jo Powe) - County setbacks don’t necessarily agree with the character of this community. Just because it’s county rules or resembles Pasadena or San Marino doesn’t impress us. That’s not who we are. People come to MN because they love the mountains and fall in love with the place. Residents here don’t see San Marino as desirable compared to MN. Osgood can’t change our mind about what’s in character with this community. Randall’s house for example, at about the same square footage as Osgood’s plans, sits on 17 acres, not 1 acre. A – Reference to other communities is for context. The content of these designs are intended to be in character with MN. The community feels that we were used by Vintage for their purposes and then ignored. Brian stated they have not walked away, and they believe that the product that David Ko is designing is classic, timeless, and valuable. They are staking the future of their companies on these beliefs and designs. Brian and David love what they do and it’s not only about the money. It doesn’t help them if they build “crap” in the first phase. Q - Seven homes are very close to Piuma (35 feet from the street) so residents will want to put up walls for privacy and sound control. A- Kim Lamorie says LCP will prohibit walls. Brian says there will be no walls. Brian contends they are not very close to the street. Ko says they have no choice about where to site the homes; they cannot push them back on the lots. Q – Slimocosky – Make sure developers are aware of and disclose to potential buyers how much traffic is on Piuma, especially on weekends. The noise from motorcycles, sports cars etc. will be very irritating to homeowners. Q – Stephanie Abronson asks if developer is aware of noise in middle of night. Q – Concern about our dark sky community. Will there be disclosure about dark skies to buyers? A - Osgood will abide by dark sky policy. They are “Totally Good” with that, and will landscape for it. Q – Osgood et al stated they believe their homes will resemble Pasadena and San Marino styles of communities. But those communities have homes with large front setbacks, which equates with valued property. Structures 20 feet from street equate with urban blight. What is County required setback? A - Total setback on closest lot = 30 – 35 feet from street (From edge of asphalt). One small lot is only 90 feet deep. It is not possible to build a house with Q – The character of this community is not 4500 sq. feet homes all in a row close to property lines, even if county says its ok. These designs may make sense to develop in another suburban community but don’t make sense to us. A – Every aspect of these designs is purposeful for each individual lot – none of the floor plans repeat. Q – We don’t object to this architecture. We object to too much sq. footage too close to the road, which will look like a suburban sub-division. Q – Vintage says they are building to market place demand. So who is the target audience? A – Multi-million dollar buyers. Later-in-life business professional, in late 50s. Q - Ilda Jacobsen knows many younger people who are moving here and are looking for smaller homes, more artisanal and craftsman. From her perspective, trying to get younger families to move in - seeing that all these homes are for older people without horses, with no children - how will the new buyers fit in? Q – People here don’t think builders are listening to what we are saying. We moved here because of the community – not just hoping to double our investment. People come here because you find what Powe said earlier. The discussion wouldn’t be this way with people who are looking for homes in the style of the homes on the “Triangle”. There’s no trust. Q – Gary Bardovi – Attended second meeting with Vintage at Yehuda’s home. This architecture is well crafted, an adept job, beautifully done. He appreciates the inspiration and feels it works well with contours. The feeling at the second meeting was that we were pleased with what we saw. The outcome of that meeting was the letter to Hardie asserting that Vintage would continue to work with us on several parameters. We are disappointed that that didn’t happen. And sad to realize we have no leverage left. A – They had no idea we had any objections. They believe they have executed exactly what they originally promised. Q - Scale drawings were provided by MN resident, David Coronella, a graphic artist, to illustrate the overpowering appearance the homes will have in the view from his own home. A - Ko does not believe they are accurate or include trees. Q - Site plans presented here today, and ostensibly presented at the second meeting with MN at Yehuda’s house, are dated several months after that meeting. So how could they have been shown to us at that meeting? Q - In 1930s there was a condition called small lots subdivision that was permitted in MN, so smaller lots were developed. Then parameters changed and those small lots are no longer permitted. Osgood et al left meeting at 8:53PM. Old Business Cold Canyon street repair – Update from Lee Renger – The water board voted this evening to agree with LA County and pay County to take care of the road. Water district will fix the pipe (when? is still a question). Still unanswered is what came first? The water break or the landslide and which caused which? In any case there has been an agreement to repair it. Water Tanks on Piuma - Someone still needs to post on Nextdoor about people stealing water from hydrants. A red device between hydrant and hose should be there to meter the water. If it’s not there, they are stealing water. Renger says the devices are big enough to notice. Reiss will post on next door. Road repair - Repaving has begun in Edenwild. New Business: Fire preparedness meeting this Sat, Oct 18 9AM – 1PM. Meet at the end of Camino Calibri. Everyone please come! Even seasoned residents can learn something new. Lots of vendors will be there. Powe updated the red emergency preparedness brochure from Abronson. MRT paid to print 200 copies. Must attend to get one. CERT rep will be there Sat too. Les Hardie, Mark Mehner, Tracy Bunetta, and Jo Powe will be trained to be risk assessors and can then come to your home and assess wildfire risk. There is still room for one more person to be trained. There is no cost for training. BBQ Square Dance – Fantastic job! Thank you Ilda and her committee! Receipts have been submitted. She had previously been given a $600 advance. She is owed $296.34, and 3 other people are owed total of about $250. 40% bought tickets on Eventbrite. Event was in the black. Motion to pay Ilda and other 4 checks passed. MNVCA Board Nominations and Elections – A nominating committee of board and non-board members is needed for Board elections in Nov. Gary Wooller will be the board member rep on committee. Ilda has some new people to nominate. Up for re-election this year: Jill Reiss, Carrie Baltin, Gary Wooller, Heidi Stompe, Judy Goldin, and Mary Helen Young. Osgood/Vintage Appeal - Powe: Frank Angel’s law firm was engaged to file an appeal prior to County Planning director approving development. 13 of 16 lots have been approved. Towers’ heights were reduced for two of the lots that did not receive approval since they violated county height restrictions but as far as we know the County has not yet approved those two plot plans. LA County made 2 sets of decisions: each plot was voted yes or no - and a mitigated negative declaration (MND) was adopted for all of the lots. To appeal all those decisions would cost $735/lot plus $735 for MND. It’s too costly. So we decided to only appeal the mitigated negative declaration, which will apply to every lot. If we win it means LA County says Osgood has to either redo the MND with better disclosure about impacts and/or more stringent mitigation or go to a full EIR and the development would have to await that process. Or we could lose. The Planning Commission appeal hearing will not happen until Jan 2015, which gives us plenty of time to develop strong arguments. Developer cannot do anything until planning commission hears this. We want support from Federation – Lamorie will make a presentation in support of this. Also we are looking for support from Heal the Bay and SOS. If we lose the appeal, and file a lawsuit, the defendant will be the county. (We will be opposing the county). Powe said we need community support at the hearing and a letter writing campaign. Frank Angel is the lawyer who won the Soka case – he is excellent at what he does. Angel and Powe both believe there’s a strong case to be made for our appeal. The State Department of Fish and Wildlife letter opposing the development is very strong in our favor. Questions were asked about why this development was approved when it seems so clearly in violation of the new LCP. Powe explained some of the arguments that can be made under CEQA. Lamorie added that Osgood has another project in the county near Saratoga Hills, which is also in unincorporated county but not LCP territory. Perhaps we can work a united opposition front with them. Approval for this project was granted by a single individual, Bruckner, who is the appointed planning director, rather than by the entire planning commission. We will appeal to the whole planning commission. The first step is to get an initiative going in Monte Nido to raise funds. Lamorie suggests a fund-raiser with all of the Federation. Powe suggests MNVCA volunteers work with Lamorie to develop a plan for joint fund raising. Another group should post signs around MN to raise awareness. Joan Slimocosky will work with Kim to get this started. Also we have a large road sign that we can adapt to bring awareness. Meeting adjourned at 10:20PM. Respectfully submitted, Jill Reiss Minutes of Nov. 2014 Board Meeting MNVCA Board Meeting of Nov 11, 2014 was called to order at 7:10 PM at the home of Judy Goldin Present from the board: Judy Goldin, Carrie Baltin, Jill Reiss, Dana Chidekel, Ann Monahan, Mary Helen Young, Sally Livingston, Alicia Gonzalez, Joan Slimocosky, Gary Wooller, Ilda Jacobsen Present from the community: Yehuda Netanel, Tamara Wasserman, Megan Wolflick, Beatrice Kerti, Sheila Rosenthal, Jo Powe, Brent Baltin, Chuck Abronson, Gary Bardovi Agenda Changes - none Minutes of September meeting: Approved – Reiss is requested to send the latest version to Mary Helen Young for the newsletter Treasurer’s Report – Judy Goldin reported there are no real changes in our financial status. Some money may need to be moved to the checking account. She has engaged a new accounting firm, Weiss Accounting, in Van Nuys, which was recommended by Malibou Lake homeowners association and they are terrific. They knew exactly what to do to reinstate our tax-exempt status (which was first established in 1966 but revoked because we haven’t filled out the correct papers over the years). Judy filled out long forms for the IRS and Franchise Tax Board. Joan Slimocosky asked Jerry Duryea for the MNVCA articles of incorporation, but he didn’t have them. Joan filled in some history of Monte Nido: It used to be a small private water district in 1950s. Then, in 1965 when LVMWD was formed, it bought the MN district and built up the infrastructure. MNVCA started when the original water district board knew they still needed a community association after LVMWD bought it out. Judy Goldin has mailed a request to CA Secretary of State for MNVCA Articles of Incorporation, which will hopefully arrive soon. For 501c4 status, some fees will be required. If the 990 Form is onerous to fill out, Sally Livingston knows an accountant who can help at reasonable fee. Motion to authorize funds for IRS, and Franchise Tax Board passed. No correspondence – No Federation report – There was no meeting last month. The Board went into Executive Section to discuss Osgood/Vintage Pacific matter at 7:28. The open meeting resumed at 8:06 – A committee has prepared a letter to encourage fund raising for legal efforts against Osgood/Vintage development. The letter highlights concerns with the environment, flooding along Piuma, community safety, (i.e. development on such a major ingress/egress street as Piuma creates traffic backups in event of emergency fire evacuation), and perhaps most importantly, is the changes to the character of Monte Nido. O/V expands what happened on the Triangle. The letter contains calls to action. Executive session resumed at 8:14PM Open meeting resumed at 8:20 – Motion to approve a marketing budget of $500 to begin building neighborhood awareness for fund raising passed. Motion to reimburse Gary Bardovi for printing costs passed. Beatrice can prepare and print a brochure with graphic representations of the proposed tract and the prior O/V developments in Agoura and Cornell Rd. We mail 350 annual membership requests. The committee will meet again in next few weeks to get a mailing of this size out to community. Newsletter in December can also contain information. There was a question as to whether we should print and snail mail a newsletter or two at this time to get people’s attention. Sheila Rosenthal volunteers to bring mailings to post office. Motion to raise annual dues to $75 passed. Fire Council neighborhood meeting: Jo Powe reported it was successful. About 60 people showed up, along with several vendors. Horse owners got lots of good information. Jo Powe distributed the Resident Stickers for cars and extra copies of the Red Emergency Booklets, What to do in Fire etc. You can also get your driver’s license changed to say Monte Nido address to prove residency so the Police and Fire Department may allow you to enter the neighborhood during an emergency. Suze Randall went door to door to horse owners to put together people who have no trailer with people who have empty space so all horses are now matched with a trailer to get them out in an emergency. This Friday and Saturday, Les Hardie, Tracie Bunetta, Jo Powe, and Rodger Reiss are going to a Fire Risk Assessor Workshop to be certified to do local assessments for local homes. New Business: Board Elections: Carrie Baltin, Gary Wooller, Jill Reiss, Mary Helen Young, Heidi Stompe, and Judy Goldin all have terms ending this year. All of them consented to remain on the board. Heidi Stompe and Jill Reiss declared willingness to step aside if there’s a replacement nominee. Nominations: Megan Wolflick was nominated by Ilda Jacobsen. By declaration, the vacancy from Heidi Stompe will be filled by Megan Wolflick. Ads – Motion to discontinue the Bulletin Board due to lack of advertisements passed. Welcome package for new neighbors – Carrie Baltin will follow up with Cathy Sieling about the updated Directory to include in a welcome package. Broken Water Valve – Judy Goldin will follow up with Lee Renger. Road Re-paving has been completed. The meeting adjourned at 9:02PM The Next Meeting will be on: Jan 13, 2015 at the home of Mary Helen Young. There will be an emergency meeting in December 2014 only if necessary. Respectfully submitted, Jill Reiss The Next MNVCA Board Meeting will be on January 13, 2015 at the home of Mary Helen and Steve Young at 550 Live Oak Circle Dr. at 7:00 PM. Members of the Community are invited and encouraged to attend. How to reach us: Send your email address to Jill Reiss, the MNVCA secretary, at [email protected], to receive announcements of meetings, community activities, and the time and location of our Board meetings. President: Carrie Baltin 818-224-4696 Vice Pres: Joan Slimocosky 818-591-1082 Treasurer: Judy Goldin 818-983-1910 Secretary: Jill Reiss 818-222-1995 Contributions to the newsletter can be sent to the editor Mary Helen Young at [email protected] Addendum—Reprint of Message sent out by MNVCA to local community Dec. 3 in case you missed it Development of 15 tract homes coming our way! Does this sound like the Monte Nido you know? Large, suburban tract homes boasting manicured lawns and pseudo classic architecture. Fearfully bright night lighting that drowns out the stars. Structured fencing obstructing nature trails to segregate all that pesky wildlife lurking in the mountain nest. This is Monte Nido's future Matt Osgood's Vintage at Hidden Hills in Agoura Hills is the vision for Monte Nido There is a 15-home tract development currently in the works for both sides of Piuma between Cold Canyon and the first hairpin curve. These new tract homes come to us from developer Matt Osgood of Vintage Communities, a well-known Orange County residential property development company. Lots currently planned for development along Piuma Road. WHY SHOULD WE BE CONCERNED ABOUT THIS TRACT DEVELOPMENT? CONSIDER IMPACTS ON: Environment Reduced open space: 15 homes averaging 4500 sq. ft, not including garages (up to 1600 sq. ft), pools and other hardscape on proportionally small lots of approximately 1 acre along a half-mile stretch of both sides of Piuma -- with some homes 30ft. from the edge of Piuma. Effects on wildlife habitat and passage: fencing, night lighting, noise Impediments to Backbone Trail and views Community Safety Flooding: despite the drought, there is an historical flooding problem along Piuma (recall 1980, 1995, and 2005) exacerbated by recent build-out on the triangle. Fifteen new tract homes and their hardscape could create a rush of floodwaters to the homes below. Wild fires and exiting traffic back-ups: with Piuma as the main thoroughfare for evacuations and fire vehicle transport, an overrun of development can obstruct fighting efforts. Community Character Large tract homes on proportionally small lots in proximity to each other doesn't support the aesthetic originality of our "rural village." Dark skies are threatened. Is this the genesis of the Oaks or Simi Valley in our mountain nest - aren't there enough of those? What you can do: 1) See it. Drive up Piuma, take in the view (possibly for the last time), witness the cleared out lots, and envision the impact this large subdivision will have as you enter Monte Nido. 2) Read the history of this development. 3) Google "Matt Osgood Vintage Properties" and pull up articles like: http://www.edcnet.org/news/PressReleases/12-07-24.pdf http://www.independent.com/news/2010/jul/29/new-owners-naples/ 4) Check out Matt Osgood's Vintage at Hidden Park Estates in Agoura Hills to see his vision for Monte Nido. 5) Learn how the Naples community in Santa Barbara united and won against Matt Osgood's planned development along their pristine coastline. 6) Attend small group information meetings hosted by your neighbors to galvanize our community efforts and preserve the Monte Nido we love. For five decades, the Monte Nido Valley Community Association, a respected and heeded voice of the Santa Monica Mountains, has held the line on inappropriate development in the Las Virgenes Valley. Working with county and state agencies, and sometimes through litigation, we have fought to defend this beautiful "mountain nest" that some would like to exploit for their own gain. Support our efforts with a donation to the legal fund to fight this tract development. We need your help. Thank you, Your Neighbors MNVCA Together, we can preserve our rural community character. Send payment to: MNVCA at P.O. Box 8054, Calabasas, CA 91372.