Altadena Trails |
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By Larry Wilson, Staff Writer ALTADENA -- Editorial by Larry Wilson, Pasadena Star News Editor Published: Tuesday, August 31, 2004 - 8:29:57 PM PST Happy trails to you JUST BEFORE I went out of town for vacation, it was a great pleasure to read a get- tough letter from Supervisor Michael Antonovich. He sent it to homeowners at the tony La Vina development above Altadena setting the record straight about the county's duty to secure ''a seamless equestrian/hiking trail from Hahamongna Park in the west to Eaton Canyon in the east.'' Antonovich had to send the letter to each household individually rather than using the traditional method of routing it through the gated community's homeowners association. That's because a rogue faction on the board of directors has taken over, opposed to keeping the promises La Vina developers long ago made to the county and Altadenans about respecting traditional trails and open space. ''Initially representatives of La Vina participated constructively in efforts to restore the Altadena trail system,'' the supervisor writes. "For whatever reason, at some point La Vina representatives withdrew from the Working Group ... County staff and others in the Altadena Crest Trail have recently encountered resistance and in certain instances downright hostility from the board of directors of the La Vina Homeowners Association.'' Got that right, Mike. Must have been tapping into my own e- mail. Hostile's not the half of it. But both Antonovich and county CAO David Janssen say they're committed to successfully building this trail. Note that it isn't through anyone's yard or anything like it. The traditional trail up Millard Canyon goes through open space outside the development proper that was deeded over to La Vina. ''If resolution cannot be attained, the County will review all other available remedies,'' Janssen writes. Antonovich is a tad more direct: ''Although consideration of legal options is always a last resort, the actions of your homeowner association representatives have left the County with no alternative.'' This month local attorneys Stephen English and Paul Ayers, acting through the Center for Law in the Public Interest, also raised the possibility of legal action. They note that though developers were at one point required to complete a trail restoration before additional building permits were given, they never even started the trail work, and yet the county allowed the development to finish. Now the association posts ''No Trespassing'' signs and harasses hikers on traditional paths. Larry Wilson is editor of the Pasadena Star-News. His column appears Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. Public discussion, news and announcements are posted on the Altadena Crest Trail email forum. For easy instructions on how to access that forum, please read ACTRWG Email Forum (signingup.html). Updated July 24, 2004. Send comments regarding this site to support at Altadena Trails .org |