City Council To Consider Alhambra Highlands Appeal

The City Council will consider a series of appeals Wednesday night from citizens seeking to overturn the Planning Commission's approval in April of a project that would allow 110 homes in the Alhambra Hills.

The Alhambra Highlands project, which has been under consideration in one form or another for more than 20 years, comes to the council as a plan to construct 110 custom and semi-custom homes on 76 acres over 10 years. Two-hundred-eighteen acres would be dedicated to open space and to the preservation of the Alameda whipsnake, an endangered species that lives on the site.

Opponents say that the project would create havoc in existing neighborhoods, including possible landslides, and traffic, light and noise problems. They also say that one of the last pristine parcels along the city's southeast border should be preserved as open space.

To that end, a citizen's group has been formed. Called the Alhambra Hills Open Space Committee, the ad hoc group hopes to find funding from public and private agencies and individuals to purchase the land and keep the 300 acres permanent open space.

The regular council meeting will be Wednesday at 7 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers, 525 Henrietta St. There will be a workshop on Sea Level Rise and Climate Change at 6 p.m.