News of the Arroyo
Title: | City gives couple OK to beautify land swath |
Subtitle: | |
Date: | 2005-11-08 |
Summary: | November 11, 2005 - Subtitle: "Neighbors worry plan will block trail access" Concerns are being raised about an easement along the Arroyo and its implications. |
Author: | Gary Scott, Staff Writer |
Publication: | Pasadena Star News |
Content: | PASADENA - To John and Shannon Quinn, the idea was simple: tear out the crumbling dead-end street that runs between their two houses and beautify the stretch with lawn and landscaping. But unhappy neighbors along Madia Street, a stub of a road that ends at the edge of the Arroyo Seco, see something more nefarious at work. They say the couple is using its connections at City Hall to make a land grab that will cut off access to arroyo trail heads, eliminate parking spots, and prevent neighbors from being able to watch the Fourth of July fireworks show at the Rose Bowl. \"This is a political thing,\" said John Purcell, one of a half-dozen neighbors who asked the City Council on Monday to either reject the plan or keep access to the area open to the public. \"The city has to take the bull by the horns and say no to politics for once.\" The Quinns have lived at 1165 Madia Street for six and a half years. Last March, they bought the house across the street, at 1164 Madia, to turn it into a guest house for their five daughters. Before buying the home, Shannon Quinn said, she asked the city if it would be willing to turn over its easement on the final 150-feet of Madia, the stretch that runs between the two houses. The idea was to landscape what is an unattractive dead-end and create a common yard for the properties, she said. \"We thought we were improving the area,\" Shannon Quinn said, adding that she notified her neighbors early on of the plan. \"I want to be a good neighbor. I don\'t want to create hassles.\" City officials determined the dead-end section was essentially useless in terms of moving traffic around and decided to grant the easement. As part of the proposal, the Quinns would build a cul-de-sac just short of their property which city officials say will improve the safety and the look of the road. But several neighbors say the city purposely undervalued the easement to accommodate someone with close ties to the city - and Vice Mayor Steve Madison in particular. John Quinn is managing partner at the Los Angeles-based law firm Quinn Emanuel, where Madison works as a trial lawyer. Madison did not participate in Monday\'s discussion. Shannon Quinn worked years ago for the firm that employed Bill Bogaard, before he was elected mayor. Shannon Quinn said neither man helped them in their petition. \"I think this was news to Bogaard when it came to City Council,\" she said. Despite the charges of influence peddling, the neighbors appear to be amenable to compromise. \"If they want to create a parklike environment we can all use, I think people can get comfortable with that,\" said Robert Bishop, another unhappy neighbor. Bishop and others want assurances they can access to what is now the end of the street and that no building will occur on the vacated roadway. gary.scott@sgvn.com (626) 578-6300, Ext. 4458 |
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