Los Altos Bike Parade is ON!!!

Los Altos Neighborhood 4th of July Bike Parade is ON!!!

The many years tradition of  the Los Altos Neighborhood 4th of July Bike Parade will continue this year.

After some confusion if the tradition would continue when long-time parade organizer Simon Stone posted to social media that due to an injury he was unable to organize this year's parade, others in the neighborhood stepped up.

On July 3rd, this posting was issued on Nextdoor to it's Abbeyfield neighborhood:

Stephanie Pretty, Los Altos-Abbeyfield

Hello neighbors! Simon and his family are taking a well-deserved break from planning this year's event, but we will still carry on the tradition! Please join us at 9am at Abbeyfield & Atherton tomorrow and spread the word! See you on the 4th!

The folksy bike/scooter/skateboard/baby carriage  parade has traditionally been lead by the Stone's vintage Ford Mustang blaring out patriotic music with neighborhood children and adults riding, pushing and scooting along behind with patriotic decorated modes of transportation.

So spread the news Paul Revere style... "The Bikes are Coming, the Bikes are Coming!!"

Meet at 9am at Abbeyfield and Atherton.

 Click here for map PARADE START

The Great Los Altos Bike, Scooter and Unicycle Parade
Posted by Daryl Supernaw on Saturday, July 4, 2015

7 to 0 Vote = DEL NO!!!

LOS ALTOS PROUD!!!

Planning Commission votes 7-0 against CUP for 

Del Taco drive-thru in 
Los Altos neighborhood

Buoyed by a mid-afternoon Tweet from Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia supporting the Los Altos neighborhood (TWEET), dozen's of neighbors testified before the Planning Commission before the commissioners voted 7-0 to deny the Conditional Use Permit for the proposed Del Taco drive-through.

Staff reported that they had received 100 letters opposing the proposed drive-through.

Only the developer spoke in favor of the development.

The dozen's of resident's from across the Los Altos Center Adjacent Neighborhoods  spoke glowingly about the quiet small town feel of the neighborhood and its walkable nature.  Long-time residents spoke with pride about the older well-kept neighborhood that was revitalized by re-development of the Los Altos Center that lives in harmony with the high density apartments that ring the neighborhood filled with CSULB students.

The residents have worked hard to maintain that harmony with the students by working to keep late-night youth-oriented businesses away from the single-family homes filled with multi-generational residents.

Residents lined up to  explain about the negative impacts of the proposed drive-through on the residential street of Abbeyfield.

The grateful crowd  burst into cheers at the 7-0 vote and shouted thank-you to the Planning Commission.

Fourth District Councilman Daryl Supernaw who had sat in  the back of the Chamber and watched the entire meeting greeted and congratulated the residents after the vote in lobby area. 

The vote came at the end of  10 day period of turmoil where residents from across Los Altos rallied to protect their neighborhood.  Starting with a Public Hearing notice, the community quickly took to organizing on neighborhood social media.  Responding to the community, Councilman Supernaw quickly organized a Community Meeting with the developer. By most accounts in social media, at that meeting the developer came across to the down-to-earth neighborhood as "arrogant".  The neighbors quickly organized a well attended protest two days later combined with a letter writing campaign.

With back-to-back stories in the Grunion and Press-Telegram the day before the Public Hearing and the unexpected but welcome Tweet hors before the meeting, the neighborhood buzz was that the momentum was on the side of the neighborhood.  

The Shell Station owner planned to lease the property to the Del Taco corporation. While a fast-food type restruant could be built on the property with-out a drive-through, the Planning Commission vote effectively kills a drive-through ever being located on the property. 

Garcia supports Los Altos neighbors

Mayor Garcia tweets out his support for Quality of Life in Los Altos

Long Beach Mayor, Dr. Robert Garcia today went to Twitter today tweet out his support for the Los Altos neighbors trying to protect their neighborhood from a drive-thru on the residential street of Abbeyfield.

Sent today, May 5th, at 2:52 pm,  Mayor Garcia tweeted:

"All night drive-thru's on residential streets, like the proposal on the corner of Abbeyfield Rd in Los Altos, are bad for neighborhoods"

Mayor Garcia is no stranger to Los Altos. The Mayor held a meet and greet at Ecco's Pizza during his campaign and also has held a community meeting at The Bagelry and has attended Councilman Supernaw's monthly meetings answering questions from the residents.

Link: Garcia TWEET

PROTEST!!!!

Neighborhood PROTEST!!

Just ten days ago, the residents in the Los Altos Center Adjacent Neighborhoods  learned about a unique threat to their quality of life- a 24 hour drive-thru at the main entrance to their neighborhood.

In just 10 days- using old fashion community organizing and 21st Century social media the LACAN community residents have united to save their neighborhood from a poorly planned and conceived 24 hour threat.

In those 10 days, residents have emailed, written letters, attended a community meeting and now held a community protest. 

Immediately, the developer dropped plans for a 24 hour drive-thru by three hours.  Residents have been outraged at the "arrogance" of the developer's offer of a 21 hour drive-thru to placate the neighborhood.

But it isn't over yet.  Still to come is the Planning Commission meeting on May 5th and a planned appeal to the LB City Council if the Planning Commission votes in favor of the Conditional Use Permit. 

IN JUST 10 DAYS, THE COMMUNITY WENT FROM THIS NOTICE-TO THIS.....

ALSO SEE (click on): Neighborhood PROTEST

Controversial Staff Report released

LB Development Services recommends  drive-thru approval

Agenda released for May 5 Planning Commission includes a staff report  with mistakes, mis-informs, minimizations and misrepresentations

The Agenda for the May 5th Planning Commission meeting that includes the Del Taco drive-thru item was released by email today (4/29) by the city. Shortly before the city release, Councilman Daryl Supernaw released the agenda in his weekly newsletter with links to the agenda and the staff report.  (See links below).

The LB Development Services (LBDS) Staff Report in the agenda includes mistakes, mis-informs, minimizations  and misrepresentations.

The Staff Report begins with a recommendation from the LBDS staff to the Palnning Commission to approve the project's drive-thru.

The first reference in the staff report to the site's neighborhood location is at the at the end of the first paragraph in the "DISCUSSION" portion.  The report states: "The site abuts other CCA-zoned sites to the north, south and east, but is near residential zones.  The closest residential property is a single family home located 60 feet away, across Abbeyfield."   

How "near"  are the "near residential zone"?   Sixty feet. 

The "located 60 feet away, across Abbeyfield"  is just the beginning of the neighborhood "residential zones" with dozens of single family homes, duplexes and triplexes within 200 feet of the site on Abbeyfield,  Daggett and Montair streets. That 60 feet is literally the width  of Abbeyfield.  The Staff Report fails to identify that Abbeyfield is a residential side street and this sentence intimates that the home 60' away is the only impacted home.

On page two of the staff report,  the second paragraph states  that the drive-through lane provides that the queuing of the cars is along Bellflower Blvd.  It fails to mention that by arranging the drive-through that way, all of the current entrances from Bellflower Blvd. (plus one of two from Abbeyfield) are closed. No direct street access will exist to the property from Bellflower.

The second paragraph also states that the pick-up window is also located on the buildings west-side  "enabling motorists to exit the drive-through lane onto Bellflower Boulevard."

That is incorrect.

According to the Staff Report's Exhibit B architect's site and landscaping plans (see link below) -the  drive-through lane exits into the small service alley for the parking lot of the Los Altos Market Center South and the Los Altos Professional Building.  To exit onto Bellflower ( south only) would require a tight hard right radius turn out of the drive into the alley- then an immediate right onto Bellflower.  For a large vehicle, that will take some maneuvering.  

The current Shell Gas Station's driveway now merges into the alley allowing cars exiting the parking lot a wide area for right turns onto Bellflower  while cars are entering the alley.  That driveway would be gone forcing cars and large vehicles to make a wide right out of the drive-through blocking incoming cars making a right into the alley from southbound Bellflower and cars trying to exit the parking lots behind the retail and professional buildings.

The Staff Report continues with the statement that the applicant changed the hours from 24 hours to 21 hours "due to significant community opposition".  It fails to note that the 3  hour change came the day after the neighborhood meeting arraigned by Councilman Supernaw and the "significant opposition" at that meeting was to the whole drive-through concept.

In the fourth paragraph on page two, the Staff Report states:

"The sites layout will function in a manner that separates the restaurant drive-through  traffic from residential traffic to the degree possible"

The phrase "to the degree possible" is telling. The impact of the drive-through plan is to force direct street access from a residential 60' wide street- not the major boulevard. In order for any northbound traffic to enter the site- vehicles must make a left onto Abbeyfield then a right into the drive-through.  To travel North on Bellflower will require that cars exit onto Abbeyfield for the traffic light to make a left onto Bellflower.  Abbeyfield is one of the few streets in Long Beach that has speed bumps the length of the street because with its traffic light, Abbeyfield is main exit and entrance for residents of the neighborhood. 

Exhibit D ignores LBMC "Not Adjoin" mandate

The Staff Report's Exhibit D "Conditional Use Permit Findings" tries to fit the plan with the requirements mandated in the Long Beach Municipal Code (LBMC).

Exhibit D states that the LBMC directs the Planning Commission not to approve a Conditional Use Permit unless the findings of LBMC 21.25.506 are found to be true. 

Item #3 in Exhibit D tries to find that the development meets this  mandate from the LBMC:

THE SITE SHALL NOT ADJOIN OR ABUT A RESIDENTIAL USE DISTRICT

Unlike the beginning of the Staff Report, in Exhibit D, Item #3 the staff does acknowledge the adjacent residential zone, but ignores the LBMC "NOT ADJOIN" residential mandate with verbal gymnastics that conflict with the report's earlier "residential zone"  explanations.

Item #3 states:

"The subject site does not abut a residential use nor does it abut a residential use district" .  

Never addressing the additional LBMC mandate of "NOT ADJOIN" residential,  the NEXT sentence continues:

"However, because there is a residential zone diagonally across the street from the subject site, the drive-through lane was located on the farthest side of the site...in order to separate it from the residential uses as much as possible and  minimize any potential impacts."

Yep...the  However! 

Yes that "residential zone diagonally across the street"  (a mere 60' away) and the "residential uses"  are to be protected from the "drive-through lane".

Adjacient Residential Zone 60 feet  away looks out to  Del Taco 's only street access at planned drive-thru enterence 

How much protection for the "residential zone"?... "as much as possible"

Of course this is "to minimize any potential impacts."   That's right minimize impacts to the "residential zone". 

Of course, no where does the LBMC cited state that the project is allowed  to "minimize any potential impacts" to mitigate the mandate that the "SITE" "NOT ADJOIN"   residential use.

The staff cited potential impacts are clearly spelled out in Item #2 of Exhibit D where similar language is used-along with the description of what the sites potential impacts they want "minimize" are : noise and light:

 "The building and drive-through lane were specifically oriented to locate the drive-through lane operation away from the  residential property and placed closest to Bellflower Blvd. to minimize the potential of any noise or light impacts."

Once again- "minimize the potential" . But this time the Staff spells it out what needs to be minimized: "noise or light impacts."

All of the above impacts the adjacient neighborhood's "QUALITY OF LIFE"- which happens to be another LBMC mandate. 

Item #2 in Exhibit D the Staff Report tries to find that the development meets these  mandates from the LBMC:

THE PROPOSED USE WILL NOT BE DETRIMENTAL TO THE SURRONDING COMMUNITY INCLUDING PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY OR THE GENERAL WELFARE, ENVIORMENTAL QUALITY OR QUALITY OF LIFE.

Earlier in Exhibit D, Item 2  the residential zone is as acknowledged to be "adjacent to the subject site" .  Item 2 states : " However there is a residential zone adjacent to the subject site located diagonally across Abbeyfield."

The LBMC is clear, the "SITE" shall not "ADJOIN" a "RESIDENTIAL USE DISTRICT". 

The LBMC clearly addresses the whole property with the word "SITE"- not just part of the site (ie drive-through) that has potential impacts on an adjoining residential zone. 

The LBMC clearly uses two words about residential areas: ADJOIN (close) and ABUT (next to).  The Staff Report acknowledges that "there is a residential zone adjacent to the subject site".

Item #2  further states that "The project was designed to minimize potential impacts on surrounding properties from the operation of the drive-through lane for the fast food restaurant."

The position of the drive-through was the only  place they could place it. The developers original plans were rejected because of the placement of the drive-through.

The final drive-through placement forces two of the three exits and entrances to the site to be from the alley that currently serves the parking lots of  the Los Altos Professional Building  and the Los Altos Market South Center.   The drive-through placement also forces the only direct street access to be from a 60' wide residential street.

Clearly the drive-through placement does not meet the LBMC safety, general welfare or quality of life mandates.

Item #2 in Exhibit D further states  "the subject site does not abut a residential use nor does it abut a residential use district".   The technicality of the word "abut" is to touch the next property. While true the site property does not technically "touch" (abut) residential property, it  is across the street from the residential   or as the Staff Report states on the first page it "is near residential zones" .  Again, those "residential zones"  begin across a 60' residential street.

"Near", "adjoin" "adjacent", "diagonally"- take your pick of Staff Report words.  These words in the Staff Report clearly mean this plan violates the LBMC mandate :

THE SITE SHALL NOT ADJOIN OR ABUT A RESIDENTIAL USE DISTRICT

LINKS: 

• MAY 5 AGENDA
• STAFF REPORT
• EXHIBIT B PLANS

Del Taco project problems continue

Del Taco wants to save its unworkable 24 hour drive-thru with an unworkable 21 hour drive thru!!

Less than 24 hours after an overwhelming neighborhood crowd decried plans for a 24 hour drive thru at the Shell Station on the corner of Abbeyfield and Bellflower, Adam Fisher of Centerra Retail Group sent an email blast to emails of residents he collected at the meeting.  The email offered a compromise on the 24 hour drive-thru-21 hours!!!

The Fisher email blast began with " Dear Neighbors"  and continued with that they wanted to be "respectful neighbors".  Mr. Fisher wrote that they wanted to "revise their application for the 24 hour store to be more consistent to other quick service restaurants in the immediate vicinity"

Like the site map released the pervious day, this email too was full of  problems.

Aside from never using the word "fast food", Mr . Fisher also does not state what the new revised proposal is for the required CUP.

One person who received the email replied asking about the new hours and Mr. Fisher replied on his iPhone: "They'd like to be open from 5 am to 2 am".

That's right to be good neighbors on a residential street- Del Taco wants to be open 21 hours not 24 hours!

Trying to save the drive-thru CUP by giving up 3 hours has sent shock waves through the local social media all day.

Other problems with the email are its reference to being " more consistent"  with the other Los Altos fast food options.

The two other fast food restaurants in the "immediate vicinity" are the Mc Donald's at Bellflower and 23rd and the Wendy's at Stearns and Bellflower.

The Los Altos McDonalds is only directly street accessible from Bellflower-not 23rd Street. The drive-thru closes at 12 midnight Sunday-Thursday and at 1 am on Friday and Saturday.  It does not impact any residential area.

The Los Altos Wendy's is accessible from both the main streets Bellflower and Stearns- it too does not impact residential areas.  It is open from 9am-2 am seven days a week.

From the beginning, the Del Taco project has had a problem with the location.  Trying to fit both the required parking and the required length of the drive-thru lane required reworked plans by the city.  

The original city planner who denied the original plans left his job with the city.  Since his departure, the new planner has given the green light to a plan that people in the  neighborhood can easily see has numerous problems.

The current drive-thru lane (which must be approves by a CUP) completely closes off direct access to the project from the main street -Bellflower.  The only street access is from the regular sized residential street Abbeyfield.   That street is the only traffic light controlled exit and entrance from the neighborhood onto Bellflower-which is used to get from the neighborhood left onto the main street.

The proposed entrance to the site from Abbeyfield feeds directly into the drive-thru. The site map shows 4 car lengths to the speaker from the driveway entrance at Abbeyfield. More than 4 cars backed up waiting to order will block the street -the entrance to the neighborhood.

In addition, the bedrooms of single family homes are close to the drive-thru area, Just a few years ago the LB Planning Commission required the CUP of Taco Beach to close their Patio at 8pm because of the proximity to the homes and required the front door to be closed. The California ABC also included the restrictions in the ABC License.  The patio is directly across from the drive thru and the front door from the ordering speaker.

The Centerra Retail Group is also working on the new retail space at Ximeno and PCH.  Click on CRG

Neighborhood leaders have organized a demonstration on Saturday April 30th at 12 noon on the corner of Abbeyfield and Bellflower.

Planning is underway to appeal any unfavorable decision to the City Council.

Bellflower Shell station owner still owns property

At the April 26th neighborhood  meeting, on the proposed Del Taco, one of the questions put to Mr. Fisher was -"Who owned the property?" . He refused to answer.

Public records show that Jacques Hattouni bought the property from ConocoPhillips in 2008 for $1.1 million and is the owner/operator of the Bellflower Shell. 

According to public records, Mr. Hattouni still owns the property.

Public records also show that in August of 2014, Mr. Hattouni was fined by the South Coast Air Quality Management District for violation of Rule 461.  That rule  required that by April 1,  2009:  "underground storage tanks be equipped with a certified Phase II Enhanced Vapor Recovery system"

For more information Click on

VIOLATION RECORD ( see pages 4 of 6 in sec 2) 

and RULE 461

Protest planned for 24 hour drive-thru on residential street

Protest planned for this Saturday

Neighborhood crowd comes out against proposed 24 hour Del Taco Drive-thru

Over 60 people attended a neighborhood meeting on April 26 called by 4th District Councilman Daryl Supernaw about the proposed 24 hour Drive-thru at the Shell Station property at the corner of Abbeyfield and Bellflower Blvd.

Representatives from the architectural firm hired to make the plans and representatives from Del Taco attended the meeting to answer questions.

The development plans presented ( the first time the neighborhood saw the plans) completely eliminate the current two driveways into the Shell gas station from Bellflower.

With the elimination of the two driveways onto the property from Bellflower, the map presented shows that the residential street of Abbeyfield will be the major entrance and exit by a surface street to the facility and access to the planned 24 hour drive thru.

The Del Taco representatives stated that 60% of their sales come from the drive-thru.

The other major entrance and exit- the South Alley  is  one of two only two Bellflower entrances and exits serving the parking lot behind the Los Altos South Shopping Center and the Los Altos Professional Building.  

The only entrance for cars traveling north on Bellflower would be making a left onto Abbeyfield from Bellflower and entering the property from Abbeyfield- a residential street.

The traffic signal at Abbeyfield is the major exit onto Bellflower Blvd. for the neighborhood.   

  

The Del Taco Abbeyfield driveway would be across from the Taco Beach driveway and a single family home.

The drive-thru speaker will be on the corner of Abbeyfield and Bellflower facing away from the building and toward the single family bedrooms of the adjacent homes on Daggett Street and the nearest home on Abbeyfield.

A Conditional Use Permit for the 24 hour drive-thru must be approved by the City Planning Commission.   A Public Hearing on that CUP is scheduled for Thursday May 5, 2016 at City Hall.

Residents attending the neighborhood meeting peppered the Del Taco representatives with questions regarding  traffic, parking and noise issues related to the drive-thru. 

Contaminated soil was also discussed with the developers stating they had a letter from the EPA approving the removal of the tanks and the construction. 

When asked by one resident what the company was willing to compromise on with the neighbors- the representative stated that having menu items at prices below a dollar means that they have to sell a lot of items. 

Neighborhood leaders have called for a peaceful picketing of the proposed site for this Saturday April 30th at 12 noon. Residents are urged to meet at the corner of Abbeyfield and Bellflower and to bring friends and neighbors. 

Planned Entrance to Del Taco from Abbeyfield looking across to Taco Beach driveway and Abbeyfield family homes-with current inpacted parking during non-peak hours clearly shown

Abbeyfield Single Family Home looking at yellow Shell Station

View from bedroom of home on Daggett St-Abbeyfiled home on left