Archived News
Welcome to the Shadow Hills Property Owners Association website. We are a non-profit association of dedicated volunteer residents dedicated to preserving the rural community. SHPOA’s mission is to protect, preserve and promote our country lifestyle, safety, equestrian rights and property values. We are certified with the state of California and the IRS as a non-profit organization. We prioritize our activities based on input from you. We are often “first responders” on matters of concernto you. We have none of the required fees and enforcement powers of a typical HOA.
Our Mission
Some of SHPOA Accomplishments
- Since August 2014, SHPOA has been leading the fight against the high speed train. For more info click here or www.dontrailroad.us
- SHPOA was instrumental in securing Grocery Outlet to replace the shuttered Ralphs
- SHPOA’s Neighborhood Watch Program
- Free Daily Fodder (daily email) information system keeping you informed
- Equestrian-safe crossings SHPOA helped create on Wentworth at Wheatland and Mary Bell
- Traffic/radar speed enforcement return on Sunland Blvd. due to SHPOA’s efforts
- SHPOA partnered with our neighbors in Sunland-Tujunga to stop the Home Depot tenancy
- SHPOA’s maintenance of white horse rail fencing and removal of litter and graffiti (click here to report broken fencing; if car accident, please report license plate no. if possible)
Become a Member Today Support SHPOA
Resources
YOUR 2019 SHPOA PRIORITIES
PLEASE JOIN OR RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP DUES TODAY!!!
"I get the newsletter so I must be a paid member, right?" Sadly, no. Everyone in Shadow Hills gets the newsletter regardless of paid status. That's why it's so important that you renew your membership annually. For just $25 (only 7 cents a day!!), your generous support helps our volunteer-staffed community service organization cover the recurring costs associated with our website, Daily Fodder, Neighborhood Watch/emergency notifications, cleanup projects, trail maintenance, newsletter, community meetings and events, insurance, and other expenses.
SHPOA was formed in the mid-1960’s and remains committed to preserving our rural community. We continually work with other community leaders throughout the northeast San Fernando Valley, meet with elected officials, attend and testify at government meetings/hearings, write letters, monitor legislation and ordinances, and keep you informed about important issues affecting Shadow Hills. Our newsletter is printed and mailed six times a year to every household in Shadow Hills and remains a community favorite.
It’s easy to subscribe to Daily Fodder emails where you will receive timely information on lost/found animals, emergency notifications, community events/announcements, and a few fun items as well. (1) Click on the green box under “RESOURCES” near the bottom of this page or (2) by texting SHPOA to 22828.
We welcome your suggestions and volunteerism and we hope to see you at our meetings.
So please renew your membership (for Shadow Hills/Stonehurst area residents) or your newsletter (outside of Shadow Hills) subscription now. Click here for a mail-in form or pay via Paypal using the "Online Member Payment" button to the upper left.
UPDATE! SB 50 WAS KILLED FOR AT LEAST A YEAR BY THE SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE HEADED BY OUR VERY OWN SENATOR PORTANTINO! WE HAD SENT OUT THE FOLLOWING COMMUNICATION BACK IN APRIL.
SAVE THE DATE! SHPOA Meeting
Wednesday, July 10th
Office of Public Accountability(OPA)/DWP Ratepayer Advocate (City of LA)
Keynote speakers:
Fred Pickel, Ratepayer Advocate and Executive Director
Camden Collins, Ratepayer Advocate and Deputy Director
SHPOA General Meeting: The Birds and the Trees - March 12, 2019
We had a great turnout for our second meeting in 2019. Thanks to all who attended. Guest speakers included Arturo Garcia from Assemblywoman Rivas’ office who spoke about the proposed traffic congestion tax and Real ID (more on those in a separate article). Melanie K. Morita, PE, from LA County Department of Public Works, whose office is the lead agency for that area, gave an informative presentation on the Big Tujunga Wash Mitigation Area post-fire recovery plans. Almost all the vegetation was burned and some debris and non-native plants will be removed. The burned tree trunks (“snags”) are still habitat to insects and will be used to define and redefine trails. Three trail crossings will be removed to protect the fish habitat and another three will be rerouted or added. Some fish, like large mouth bass and red swamp crayfish, will be removed as they’re non-native and compete with the native species. The trail along Haines Creek will be realigned. The campaign to remove Brown-headed Cowbirds will continue as they are brood parasitic birds that lay their eggs in other species’ nests, and the chicks eat all the food brought by the parent(s). The Cowbirds can lay an amazing 40-100 eggs a season and can easily wipe out other species. Instead of planting native plants, non-natives will be removed to naturally give the natives a chance to thrive. Concerning recovery of burned trees, only approximately 25% will recover over a 5-7 year period. Currently, many are regenerating around the root area.
On related note, Councilwoman Rodriquez secured a $500,000 grant for debris removal and general cleaning up of the mitigation area. Formerly, she had secured a $1 million grant to remove debris near the Hansen Dam area so we are thrilled that she was able to obtain further funding for the mitigation area as it’s a sensitive environmental area in great need. Most of the funding will be used for hiring wildfire clean-up crews to work 20-40 hours weekly for up to 20 weeks (April-June 2019) at $13.50 per hour. If you or someone you know wishes to be considered for hire, please call 213-355-5304 or 213-355-5300.
Here is a copy & paste of an email sent to the consultant who is analyzing the impact of SB50. SHPOA strongly urges individuals to send emails in opposition to SB50. Feel free to use the following as a template
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April 10, 2019
To: anton.favorini-csorba@sen.ca.gov
Cc: Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez, Senator Portantino, senator.mcguire@senate.ca.gov, senator.moorlach@senate.ca.gov, senator.beall@senate.ca.gov, senator.hertzberg@senate.ca.gov, senator.hurtado@senate.ca.gov, senator.nielsen@senate.ca.gov. senator.wiener@senate.ca.gov
SB50 - OPPOSE
Dear Mr. Favorini-Csorba:
I am writing this email on behalf of Shadow Hills Property Owners Association, which is located in the N.E. San Fernando Valley, and represents approximately 2200 households. I understand that you are analyzing the effects of SB50.
We are gravely concerned about the impacts that SB50 will have on our own community as well as incorporated and unincorporated cities throughout California. In short, SB50 is out of bounds as it puts developers in charge of City planning!
Cities and/or counties (for unincorporated areas) should be in charge of their own zoning requirements and the state has no right to interfere or to override local ordinances. Addiitionally, homeowner associations will be hindered from representing their communities concerning development in their own neighborhoods.
It is unconscionable to shift the burden to cities that are already dealing with budget shortfalls to providing additional public safety, utilities, and testing the limits of aging water mains, sewer systems, and landfills.
SB50 will turn thousands of streets into high-density areas and cities will have absolutely no say. It gives developers the option to choose their own incentives from a list of bonuses and waivers including removing areas for trees and side yards, NO parking requirements for apartments, the ability to ignore city regulations, loss of “historical zones,” no courtyard/balcony requirements, and no requirement for affordable units. The vehicles owned by residents of these socalled “no car-needed” units will choke local street parking even further. It is folly to think that residents will not own cars and utilize only public transportation. Alternatively, what if these high-rise buildings end up with high vacancy rates because potential residents choose their cars over living in a place where no parking was provided?
Impacts include:
· Destroys single family housing and replaces them with 1-unit “anti-family” luxury 85 ft. tall towers;
· Destroys neighborhoods by allowing high rise towers in close proximity to single family residential neighborhoods;
· Disallows cities from stopping construction of luxury towers unless it “hurts public safety”;
· Disallows cities from rejecting demolitions in the targeted areas; and
· Forces low-income communities to upzone themselves by 2025, i.e., conform to SB50.
As bad as SB50 will be for property owners, it’s even worse for renters as it worsens the gentrification and displacement crisis. Landlords of existing apartment buildings that survive being demolished will be able to raise rents to benefit from the new “luxury apartments” in the neighborhood.
California has a housing crisis and SB50 will make it even worse. Cities must retain the ability to enact and enforce their own zoning laws which ideally are based on the needs of their communities. Lack of housing is not a crisis for wealthy residents; it is a crisis for low and moderate-income families. Granting developers carte blanche to build luxury high-rise apartments/condominiums through ruining community character, displacing residents, and gentrification is a terrible and immoral means. It's the worst of slippery slopes by putting zoning decisions in the lap of developers whose carpet bagging ways will destroy our neighborhoods and create more tension between the have's and have-nots.
We urge you to oppose SB50 and to allow local agencies to continue their right to enact their own zoning laws.
Sincerely,
Cindy Bloom
President, Shadow Hills Property Owners Association
818-445-5602
Click here for the full document. This list will be updated often so check back for the current status!
Public Safety! Land Use! Membership & Outreach! High Speed Train!
Help protect yourself against becoming a victim of crime. Click here to learn more.
Our rights are at risk AGAIN. Please read the letter below concerning AB 516
YOU THINK THE HIGH SPEED TRAIN IS BAD?! WAIT UNTIL YOU READ SB50!