BY ARIEL CARMONA, JR.

Diamond Bar – Local homeowners are angry over the Millennium Development. At their Sept. 16 meeting, the

Diamond Bar City Hall
(Photo Courtesy: Google Images)

Diamond Bar City Council heard from members of an exclusive gated community consisting of 751 home sites and more than 800 homeowners. They are concerned with an ongoing development project which dates back to 2005, which residents say was not properly advertised by City officials and could result in environmental hazards, as well as disturbances to homeowners adjacent to the construction.

At an informational meeting held on Sept. 9, City officials presented information to residents on the Millennium Tentative Tract 53430 project, a residential development of 48 single family custom lots inside the gates of the Country Estates on 80 acres at the terminus of Alamo Heights Drive and along Horizon Lane.

Although the City granted approvals for a conditional use permit, tree permits and an Environmental Impact Report to the developers, Millennium Road Partners, a geotechnical report, as well as on and offsite stability assessments of the site are currently under review, according to documentation made public by City officials.

Members of the Homeowners’ Association spoke during the public portion of the council meeting voicing concerns over the project. Citing the possible wear and tear of streets, noise and pollution, and the danger of heavy vehicles losing control on hillside streets, City officials were accused of arbitrarily granting the tentative tract map without considering the proper impact, and of not properly notifying all the association members.

“Eight plus years later, and many [homeowners] are just finding out they have been hoodwinked by the City that refers them back to a Board of Director which knows little or nothing about this development,” said association member Cassandra McGuiness.

“It is time to readdress this tentative tract map. Eight plus years have seen much change in protecting habitat for humans and plant life. The cost to the homeowners will be staggering and we are not prepared to support staggering costs,” said McGuiness.

Mayor Pro Tem, Steve Tye, overseeing the meeting for the absent Mayor, Carol Herrera, said, “I think it’s important for people to understand that this City Council (or any previous City Councils) didn’t hoodwink anybody.”

Other members said many questions had yet to be addressed, including a switch from a 26-foot wall along Alamo Heights Drive to two 15-foot walls, and how the development would geographically affect the location of the wall as well as the debris basin.

City Manager, James DeStefano, said the City held a meeting on Sept. 9 to inform residents about the details of the project and received feedback from them. “This project was processed over many years; it was noticed to 180 property owners in late 2005 into early 2006. The project was advertised and discussed in multiple public meetings at the time,” he said.

Association members speculate the development is being revisited as a result of a healthier real estate market, as well as the resolution of other complications facing the developers.

DeStefano added, residents and homeowners were notified of the project and were engaged in the planning, and members of the Association’s board knew about the project as far back as ten years ago when signs were posted on the property and advertisements were carried out as required.

“Back in 2005-06, the Planning Commission advised the City Council that the wall heights should not exceed 15 feet,” DeStefano said in reference to the retaining wall.

City officials indicated there was a substantial turnout for the informational meeting held Sept. 9, with more than 250 people in attendance. The purpose was to provide residents information to help them understand the project. DeStefano said the City is moving through all the questions they received in writing and will respond to them accordingly.

“The more we learn about this, the more we realize it’s a disaster,” said Association member, Michelle Yi. “The City of Diamond Bar owes us, every one of us should have been notified,” she said, adding that the area was a region that didn’t lend itself to development because of the disruptions to wildlife and other regional impacts.

In other matters, the Council was informed by Public Works Director, David Liu, that the City was notified that a Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery grant (TIGER) was awarded to Diamond Bar by the federal government in the amount of $10 million for the 57/60 freeway confluence construction project.

According to staff, the program was created by the 2009 Economic Stimulus Bill, which allows states and cities to apply for funding for transportation projects that have a significant impact on the nation, a metropolitan area or a region.

Liu said the application process was an incredibly competitive process. This is the sixth year of the grant program, and the City’s second try in pursuing this grant. $600 million in grant dollars were appropriated in the current grant cycle. 72 projects were selected from the U.S. Department of Transportation, with grants awarded from applications in 49 states. Liu added that the award validates the project as a national priority.

The grant will be matched with $4.5 million in Los Angeles County MTA funds, $10.6 million in City of Industry funds, and $9.4 million in federal funds – for a total of $34.5 million – to be used for the ongoing project. The funds will be used to implement the first three phases of the project to accelerate the congestion relief, starting in early 2016.

“The folks that travel that every day probably would attest to the fact that it is the seventh most congested interchange in the United States,” said Mayor Pro Tem Tye. “It will get worse before it gets better, but now we know that the funding is there and it’s on the horizon to get better.”

The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Diamond Bar City Council is on October 7 at 6:30 p.m., at the AQMD/Government Center Auditorium, 21865 Copley Drive.

STAFF REPORTS

Diamond Bar – September Declared National Preparedness Month

The Diamond Bar City Council Meeting on Aug. 19 began with the council presenting Chief Stone, of the County of Los Angeles Fire Department, a proclamation for September to be declared as National Preparedness Month in the City of Diamond Bar.

As Mayor Carol Herrera presented the proclamation, she stated that it was very important to be prepared and that the City of Diamond Bar is joining the nation-wide coordinated effort each September to encourage Americans to prepare for emergencies in their homes, businesses, and schools. Herrera stated that public awareness is important and that this month is to persuade individuals to take action to be prepared, such as creating an emergency supply kit that contains items that will allow families to survive for at least two weeks in the event of an emergency.

After the proclamation, Chief Stone gave a presentation on Brush Fire Safety, where he showed a video of the L.A. County Fire Department’s program, “Ready, Set, Go!” This program shows residents how to prevent a fire, prepare for a fire, and what to do during a fire. For more information about this program, visit fire.lacounty.gov.

During Public Comments, a variety of concerned residents addressed the council about the Millennium Development Project, which is located near the County Estates. They addressed concerns for health, location, and other issues on why they think the development should be moved. The City Manager addressed the issue, but suggested having a meeting between the residents and the City to go over the project, and talked about how that would come about.

Another issue that was addressed during the public comments section was the City election date. A resident asked the council if they would consider moving the date to even-numbered years.

The City Council also informed the community that the City offices will be closed in observance of Labor Day on Sept. 1, and the City Council Meeting for Sept. 2 is canceled.

During the consent calendar section of the meeting, the council approved the following items with a 5-0 vote:

• City Council minutes of the study session and the regular meeting of Aug. 5.
• Ratification of the Check Register dated July 31 through Aug. 13, 2014, totaling $863,770.76.
• A contract with ECS Imaging, Inc. in the amount of $87,000 plus a contingency of $5,000 for a total contract amount of $92,000 for the purchase of the Laserfiche Avante Document Management System and related professional services, which includes staff training, and the appropriation of $100,000 from General Fund Reserves.
• Contract Amendment for existing on-call Civil Engineering Services with Onward Engineering to perform a comprehensive parkway drainage curb analysis, for a variety of raised curbs in different areas of the city. The cost of this project would be $22,680 with a contingency authorization of $4,000.
• A Resolution which approves the application for $153,346 of Habitat Conservation Fund Grand Funds, which if awarded, requires a $153,346 match from the City for the Silver Tip Park Trail and Trail Head.

In the Public Hearing section, the Diamond Bar City Clerk talked about the adoption of a resolution which will amend the City’s Conflict of Interest Code for designated City Personnel and rescind Resolution No. 2012-36 in its entirety. The Council motioned to approve this resolution with a 5-0 vote.

Finally, presentations were given on the following items, and the council took them in consideration:

• Diamond Bar Ride Program modifications and adoption of the updated program rules and regulations.
• Adoption of a Resolution approving the City of Diamond Bar Emergency Operations Plan (EOP), which will authorize the Mayor to sign the letter promulgation and direct staff to provide a copy of the approved plan to the State of California Office of Emergency Services.

After the Council sub-committee reports, meeting attendance reports, and council member comments, the meeting was adjourned at 8:30 p.m. The next City Council meeting will take place on Sept. 16, at 6:30 p.m., at the AQMD/Government Center Auditorium, located at 21865 Copley Drive.