MONTE NIDO VALLEY
COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION
A Dark Sky Community
E-NEWSLETTER
March/April 2015
WHAT’S IN THIS ISSUE
Backbone Trail Community hike event April 18
Local land development on Piuma and legal fund to oppose approval
of submitted plans
Equestrian properties and new, time-sensitive permitting processes
Fire Safe Council Workshop May 2
First in a series of interviews with the MNVCA Board members by
Ann Monahan
Minutes of March 2015 Board meeting
Please note the invitation sent out on Nextdoor Monte Nido and posted
around the neighborhood. This hike is for anyone in the community who
would like to enjoy the springtime natural beauty of Monte Nido and
observe first hand some of the areas in danger of intrusion by the Vintage
Pacific Properties development plan.
Monte Nido Valley Community Association
invites you to hike a section of the beautiful
Backbone Trail
See why Monte Nido is such a unique environment.
Learn how you can help preserve it!
Saturday, April 18th
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8:30 am – park/meet at Piuma & Woodbluff
9am prompt – car shuttles will depart
2 hour hike (approx.), moderately strenuous, mostly downhill
Wear appropriate shoes
Bring water
No dogs, no small children (unless you are prepared to carry
them)
 Those with limited mobility are welcome to meet up with hikers
at the end of the trail (Backbone Trailhead at 1st hairpin curve
on Piuma )
@ 11am for coffee, juice, and bagels
Vintage Pacific Properties
Development on Piuma Rd
As noted in earlier Newsletters, plans for the
building of very large, multistory homes
covering the lots on Piuma near the first
hairpin turn by Vintage Pacific Co. continues
to be a threat to Monte Nido ambiance and to
nearby parkland. MNVCA has formally
appealed approvals issued to date and a legal
fund has been established to enable our
voices to be heard in the County Planning
and permitting processes that are to come.
An important hearing on this topic is
scheduled for April 8. We believe that we are
on sound legal and environmental grounds
and that our chances are good to mitigate
possible damage to the character and
environmental quality of our community. We
have a good start, but additional resources are
needed to run the gauntlet of the legal
process Please review the information sent
out on this topic and join us at the April 18
hike (see above) and consider donating to this
fund in any amount. The address for mailing
a donation is MNVCA at PO Box 8054,
Calabasas 91372.
Judy Goldin, Treasurer
Include a notation that the donation is for the
legal fund.
Implications of new permitting
requirements for equestrian
properties
Please take note of the message sent out by
Stephanie Abronson, local champion of horses
and horse lovers, on the implications of
regulations contained within the recently
passed local land use regulations. To maintain
or establish permits for keeping horses and
making use of equestrian properties in Monte
Nido it will be necessary to go through a new,
and potentially expensive permit process.
Stephanie’s message is reprinted as an
addendum to this Newsletter below. It
contains important background information,
links to County documents, recommendations
for steps to be taken, County official contact
points, and an email address where further
inquires can be sent. There is a plan to hold a
question/answer meeting with an appropriate
County official on this topic in the future.
When this is scheduled the meeting details will
be sent out to the community.
Monte Nido Fire Safe Council
Workshop Scheduled
Look also at the addenda to this Newsletter for
information on an upcoming workshop (May 2)
on strategies and methods for preparing your
home and property for maximum safety during
wild fire seasons in Monte Nido. Many thanks
to Jo Powe, Mark Mehner and the rest of the
Council members who volunteer their time and
expertise on ongoing projects and education
and outreach programs that make us and our
community safer.
More Monte Nido Stories by Ann
Monahan
In recent months Ann has collected and
written local stories from long time and newly
arrived Monte Nido residents for this
Newsletter. Along these lines, she plans to do
a series of interviews of current MNVCA
Board members and tell their stories starting
with our invaluable MNVCA Board Secretary,
Jill Reiss. below.
" I LOVE THE COMMUNITY OF MONTE NIDO...
THE COMMUNITY OF FRIENDS WHO TAKE CARE
OF EACH OTHER... IT’S A REAL COMMUNITY
FAR FROM THE URBAN NIGHTMARE"
THIS IS A QUOTE FROM JILL REISS, THE
SECRETARY OF THE MONTE NIDO VALLEY
COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION FOR THE LAST
SEVEN YEARS. SHE IS A NATIVE NEW YORKER,
AND USED TO LIVE IN CONNETICUT, OHIO AND
NORTHRIDGE. YEARS AGO, SHE ATTENDED A
BIRTHDAY PARTY WHEN HER DAUGHTER,
MELYSA, WAS IN THE 8TH GRADE. THE PARTY
WAS AT KINSLEY CARNAHAN'S HOUSE HERE IN
MONTE NIDO. THAT'S HOW SHE DISCOVERED
OUR LITTLE VILLAGE. A DECADE LATER,
WHEN THEY RETURNED FROM CT, HER
HUSBAND WORKED ON MUREAU RD. HE TOOK
A MAP AND CIRCLED THE AREA WHERE THEY
SHOULD LOOK FOR HOMES. IN THAT CIRCLE,
WAS A LITTLE AREA CALLED "MONTE NIDO".
THE REST IS HISTORY. THEY HAVE BEEN
RESIDENTS FOR THE PAST 12 YEARS. SHE SAYS
SHE LOVES THE GOOD CLEAN AIR AND THE
COUNTRY LIVING, BUT REITERATED THAT THE
PEOPLE ARE THE KINDEST, THEY CARE ABOUT
EACH OTHER AND LOOK OUT FOR EACH
OTHER. JILL IS AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
MATH SPECIALIST, CURRENTLY TEACHING
3,4,5,6 GRADES IN ENCINO. IT’S A 20-MILE TRIP
EACH WAY, BUT WELL WORTH IT. HER FAMILY
PLANS THEIR DAYS AROUND "WHEN WE CAN
BE HOME". CURRENTLY, THE HOME HOUSES
JILL, HER HUSBAND AND RUFUS, THE CAT. BUT
THIS FALL, WHILE HER SON-IN-LAW, A NAVY
LIEUTENANT, IS DEPLOYED, MELYSA AND HER
BABY, GRAY, WILL BE JOINING THEM ALONG
WITH ANOTHER 3 CATS AND A DOG, SO THE
"FRENCH CHALET TYPE" HOME WILL BE
HOPPING.
ON THE SUBJECT OF THE PROPOSED "HERITAGE
HOMES" PROJECT ON
PIUMA RD, HERE ARE JILL'S THOUGHTS: "I
RESPECT PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO DEVELOP THEIR
PROPERTY, AND I DON'T THINK WE CAN STAND
IN THE WAY OF MORE DEVELOPMENT AND SAY
"NO MORE..EVER". THAT'S A PIPE DREAM AND
UNREALISTIC. HOWEVER, THIS PARTICULAR
DEVELOPER HAS ABUSED OUR TRUST. HE
INITIALLY PROPOSED A WHOLE DIFFERENT SET
OF PARAMETERS AND HOW HE WOULD
CONFORM TO OUR STYLE OF LIVING HERE.
WHAT HE HAS PROPOSED ARE VERY
BEAUTIFUL HOMES, BUT TOO LARGE FOR
THEIR LOTS AND WAY OUT OF CHARACTER
WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD, AND WILL FEEL
LIKE A SUB-DEVELOPMENT OF TRACT HOMES
WHICH IS NOT WHAT WE ARE. MONTE NIDO
HOMES ARE CUSTOM, WHICH ARE ALL
INDIVIDUAL. THEY ARE NOT COOKIE CUTTER
HOMES, THE VINTAGE DEVELOPMENT WILL
FEEL LIKE A SUBURBAN VALLEY
DEVELOPMENT. AND THEN THERE ARE THE
INFRINGEMENTS ON THE ENVIRONMENT. I
DON'T LIKE TO SEE THE ENVIROMENT
BLIGHTED OR
OVERLY DEVELOPED, AND I NO LONGER TRUST
HIM. IF HE WOULD SCALE IT BACK, SO THAT
THEY ARE PROPORTIONATE TO THE LOT AND
FIT IN A LITTLE BIT BETTER WITH THE
SURROUNDINGS, I WOULD BE FAR MORE
SUPPORTIVE.
IT TAKES A CERTAIN TYPE OF PERSON TO LIVE
HERE. WE HAVE BEEN HERE 12 YEARS. WHEN
WE FIRST MOVED IN THERE WAS A SERIOUS EL
NINO AND PIUMA FLOODED. THAT'S HOW I
DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS A CREEK HERE.
I TURNED OFF LAS VIRGENES ONTO PIUMA
AND WENT "WHERE IS ALL THE WATER
COMING FROM? "
TO SUM UP LIVING HERE IN MONTE NIDO. WE
DON'T COME AND GO. WE PLAN OUR DAY
AROUND WHEN WE CAN BE HOME. IT’S A
FANTASTIC PLACE.
Thank you
MNVCA Members
Board members and community volunteers
organize annual events such as July 4 parade
and picnic, 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.
The membership drive for 2015 is now
underway. We encourage all our local
residents to join MNVCA . In anticipation of
some increased costs, the annual membership
fee is increased 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 PO Box
8054, Calabasas 91372.
Judy Goldin, Treasurer
Backbone Trail to raise awareness of the scenic
beauty that will be impacted by the development.
Minutes of the MNVCA Board Meeting of
March 10, 2015
Meeting was held at the home of Judy Goldin. Joan
Slimocosky called the meeting to order at 7:11PM,
in the absence of Carrie Baltin.
Present from the Board: Presiding VP Joan
Slimocosky, Alicia Gonzalez, Ann Monahan, Mary
Helen Young, Sheila Rosenthal, Maria Ioan, Jill
Reiss, Gary Wooller, Judy Goldin, Ilda Jacobsen,
Megan Wolflick
Present from the Community: Alex and Lana
Kravetz, Jane Cudworth, Shari Pevsner, Jo Powe,
Suze Randall
A quorum of Board members was established
Minutes from the Feb 2015 meeting were approved.
Treasurer’s Report: Judy Goldin reported –
The IRS reinstated our 501c4 status. CA
State Franchise Tax Board non-profit approval is
still pending, but all paperwork is being prepared.
Membership – 84 households have paid their
membership dues from the latest membership
appeal. This is a very typical/usual response level.
People frequently believe they’ve already paid dues
because they have joined their smaller, local
neighborhood groups. Suggestion was made to send
a second appeal offering PayPal payment through
the email account Ilda opened.
Motion passed to authorize Judy Goldin to
pay 2015 membership dues to Federation. Motion
passed to authorize Judy Goldin to reimburse Carrie
Baltin for expenses she incurred for the Installation
Pot Luck dinner meeting in February 2015.
Federation – no meeting.
Old Business Osgood/Vintage: The Board moved to
executive session for an update on status.
Motion passed that on April 18, 2015 (rain
day April 25) we will have a community hike on the
Motion passed that the association access
our marketing fund for $200 to purchase 50 street
signs to create awareness of opposition to the
development. Subcommittee will decide how to
distribute/sell.
Directory – Cathy Sieling says everything is
complete and she is awaiting direction about
binding. Joan Slimocosky has given her instructions
about the printing company and spiral binding.
Water Main – is fixed on Cold Canyon.
New Business – LIP, Jo Powe Reported:
Local Implementation Plan (LIP) – This
portion of the LCP outlines the specifics of how the
LUP (Land Use Plan) will be implemented. LA
County was successful in getting CCC to include
that there would be a path to compliance for
residents in the mountains with existing horse
facilities who do not have an existing coastal
permit. Facilities built before 1976 are
grandfathered in. If you created an unpermitted
facility after 2001 you are ineligible to participate.
Facilities without permits created between ‘76 and
‘01 are eligible to participate. There are two
categories: One category for facilities that comply
with all rules and regulations but have no permit.
Those facility owners can fill out an application and
present the required information. Then the County
will inspect and if it says you are in compliance,
you will pay a fee and receive your permit. The
second category is for unpermitted facilities that
violate the strict requirements of the LCP (for ex.
too close to creek, under oaks). They have to apply
for a coastal development permit and the County
will determine if you can relocate the facility to
another location on the property that would be in
compliance. If the only possible location on your
property violates the rules and regulations, the
County may allow you to keep it if you agree to
impose best management practices. Then you will
receive an 8-year permit, renewable only 2 more
times for a total of 24 years. After 24 years, you
cannot renew. At that time, you will have to remove
the facility and restore the native vegetation to its
original state. If you sell the property, the 24 years
is shortened and the new buyer has to re-apply. The
24-year countdown started on Oct 11, 2014. And
there is a two-year application window – you must
file the application before Oct 2016. If Coastal has
already cited you for violations, you only have 1
year: that deadline ends Oct 11, 2015. However, LA
County has not yet drafted the applications for
distribution and is not yet ready to receive
applications. Efforts are underway to get LA
County to agree to re-start the 2-year window after
the County begins to accept applications. Stephanie
Abronson will send notices to ETI and other horse
people about outreach meetings and information to
guide them in completing applications. Motion
passed to forward Stephanie’s information about
LIP requirements regarding horse facilities to our
email distribution list.
Meeting adjourned at 8:58PM
The Next MNVCA Board of Directors Meeting will
be held on April 14 at the home of Joan
Slimocosky.
Respectfully submitted,
Jill Reiss
Secretary
The Next MNVCA Board Meeting will be on April 14, 2015 at the home of
Joan Slimocosky 25632 Buckhorn 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]
Stephanie Abronson’s Message on Equestrian Property Permitting:
If you live in Monte Nido, and have property that could/does have facilities for horses including a corral fence, or if
you wish in the future to increase your property value because your property could have horses on it --- this is why
you may have received the ETI Corral 36 April Newsletter. It contains very important information for you to follow if
you wish to apply to L.A. County for a CUP under the "Special Compliance Program" (SPC). You can apply before
Oct. 10, 2016.
The more neighbors we gather to apply early to the County SCP, the more leverage we may have to lower costs to
each individual.
NOTICE: As of April 4, 2015:
If you live in Monte Nido, and have property that could/does have facilities for horses including a corral fence,
or if you wish in the future to increase your property value because your property could have horses on it --- this
is why you may have received the ETI Corral 36 April Newsletter. It contains very important information for
you to follow if you wish to apply to L.A. County for a CUP under the "Special Compliance Program" (SPC).
You can apply before Oct. 10, 2016.
The more neighbors we gather to apply early to the County SCP, the more leverage we may have to lower costs
to each individual.
ATTENTION STA. MONICA MTNS. PROPERTY OWNERS
THE CLOCK IS TICKING…for the “SPECIAL COMPLIANCE PROGRAM”
EVERY EQUESTRIAN PROPERTY IN THE SANTA MONICA MOUNTAINS IS AFFECTED
We are several months into the “SPECIAL COMPLIANCE PROGRAM” of the Coastal Development Program (CDP),
which impacts ALL property owners in the Santa Monica Mountains Local Coastal Plan (SMM LCP), however property
owners have received very little information on how to proceed. It was our impression that the County would hold a
Community Outreach Meeting soon after the first of the year to provide key information, and therefore, property
owners needed to be patient before starting the application process for the “Special Compliance Program”.
Unfortunately, it seems that this community meeting is not likely to take place anytime soon!
We have obtained information which indicates it will be some time before the L. A. County Regional Planning
department will be ready to hold a Community Outreach Meeting with Monte Nido, or other communities in the SMM.
Apparently the County has a complicated consultant hiring system so that is what is taking the time. This County
consultant will be in charge of all “outreach” meetings. According to sources, this consultant is not yet hired. We have
been told that some other administrative part of the County, not Regional Planning, has to designate the job description,
and must go through specific political steps to complete this process before advertising and accepting applications from
candidates for the “outreach” job.
 With this new information,
we recommend that property owners should not delay any longer, and should
commencing the application process as soon as possible.
seriously consider
KEY INFORMATION:
Deadline to file application*: October 10, 2016
Where to obtain application and checklist:
It appears that the County has published the CDP application on their web site under “Santa Monica Mountains Local Coastal Program (LCP).” The
site is http://planning.lacounty.gov/apps
Certificate of Compliance
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Certificate of Compliance Information (English) (PDF)
Certificate of Compliance Information (Spanish) (PDF)
Certificate of Compliance Application (PDF or Word)
Certificate of Compliance Checklist (PDF or Word)
Certificate of Compliance Legal Description (PDF or Word)
Fees:
Application Fee $9,600
Other fees to be accrued:
Environmental Review Fee
Biological Survey Fees
Property Drawings (if you have the original CCC and LA County Regional Planning Permits & drawings, you may
not need a property survey).
Who to Contact for Additional Information:
OR:
Joshua Huntington, AICP
Principal Planner, Zoning Permits West Section
Department of Regional Planning
320 W. Temple Street
Los Angeles CA 90012
213-974-6462
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://planning.lacounty.gov
Leonard Erlanger, Land Div. Research Section
213. 974.6458
Email: [email protected]
Viewing your property:
L. A. County Department of Regional Planning has a Resource Overlay Map program - an interactive website:
http://planning.lacounty.gov/smmlcpnet. Look for the Santa Monica Mountains Local Coastal Program; Look for
information regarding biological resources, scenic resources, zoning, land use, etc. for properties within the Santa
Monica Mountains Coastal Zone. Use this tool to VIEW this information for properties within the Coastal Zone. There
are overlays to fill out all of the information that will be required for your application.
It is important to have a Biological Survey done in the spring while plants are blooming and birds are nesting.
The Abronson’s recommend Dan Cooper, Cooper Ecological; email: [email protected]; (323) 397-3562. Call
Dan for a quick look at your property and he will follow up with a quote.
*There are 18 people in the community who fall into the 1-year category who have received a California Coastal Commission Notice
of Violation for the “Special Compliance Program”. According to sources, all 18 have received notice and their deadline to file an
application is OCTOBER 10, 2015. We strongly suggest these folks get on the phone with the County and demand to know how they
are to comply with the special compliance program – there are only a few months remaining for these 18 property owners!
~~ Article provided by ETI Corral 36 members
Kimber Gustafson and Stephanie Abronson,
Editor, ETI Corral 36 Newsletter
If you have general questions about the LCP and the “Special Compliance Program” please send them to the email address
below and we will respond to them as quickly as possible, depending on the volume of requests.
Email address – [email protected]
MONTE NIDO FIRE SAFE COUNCIL WORKSHOP
DON’T LET THIS BE YOUR HOUSE
SATURDAY, MAY 2
9 a.m. – noon
RSVP to [email protected] or (310) 745-3642
Meet at the Edenwild Bridge at 9 a.m.
We will tour 4 homes with risk assessors to learn more about how best to protect our homes ahead of a wildfire.
Funding provided by a grant from the Community Assistance Program of the Santa
Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, National Park Service, Department
of the Interior, through the California Fire Safe Council.