COUNCIL CURBS RIDGELINE DEVELOPMENT.Byline: Harrison Sheppard Staff Writer LAKE VIEW TERRACE - The Los Angeles City Council  The Los Angeles City Council is the governing body of the City of Los Angeles, California, United States. , meeting in the northeast San Fernando Valley San Fernando ValleyValley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. on Wednesday, passed a plan to restrict development on scenic ridges in the Verdugo and San Gabriel mountains San Gabriel Mountains, S Calif., E and NE of Los Angeles, running c.50 mi (80 km) westward from Cajon Pass. San Antonio Peak (10,080 ft/3,072 m) is the highest of the range. Citrus fruits are raised on the southern foothills. . The plan had been in the works for two decades and was strongly supported by community members who wanted to protect their mountain views by restricting development. ``This plan is historic,'' said Councilwoman Wendy Greuel Wendy Greuel is President Pro Tempore of the Los Angeles City Council representing the 2nd District. Greuel was elected in 2002 to fill the remainder of the term of Councilman Joel Wachs. She was elected in her own right in 2003 and reelected in 2007. . ``This is the first time this kind of scenic-preservation plan has been adopted.'' Community members had fought for years to protect the ridge and eventually won a plan that restricted development up to 60 feet from the ridge line. ``They (the mountains) stood there about 12 million years. I think it's time It's Time was a successful political campaign run by the Australian Labor Party (ALP) under Gough Whitlam at the 1972 election in Australia. Campaigning on the perceived need for change after 23 years of conservative (Liberal Party of Australia) government, Labor put forward a we stopped screwing them up,'' said plan supporter Lloyd Hitt. Wednesday's meeting was held in the Valley as part of the council's new policy to hold its meetings in every council district at least once a year. The room erupted in cheers as the council approved the San Gabriel/Verdugo Mountains Scenic Preservation Specific Plan by a 13-0 vote. While the overwhelming majority of the 250 people in the audience supported the plan, critics complained that it restricted them from developing their own properties. Tim Sauer, who owns a five-acre property in Shadow Hills, said the rules prevent him from adding a second story to his home, which is near the top of the ridgeline ridge·line n. See ridge. Noun 1. ridgeline - a long narrow range of hills ridge arete - a sharp narrow ridge found in rugged mountains . ``This is an enormous land grab land grab n. An aggressive taking of land, especially by military force, in order to expand territorial holdings or broaden power: "The Oklahoma Land Rush of 1889 was . . . ,'' Sauer said. ``I pay taxes on this property that I can't develop.'' Councilman Nate Holden warned plan backers to watch out for developers who seek exemptions to the rules. ``It's almost like you never adopted anything,'' Holden said. ``I'm saying to you, beware.'' He advised the community to propose a ballot measure that would require any amendment to the plan to be approved by a vote of the people, not just the City Council. |
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