Leona Heights Neighborhood News

by Gordon Laverty

Here we go again! Another group has visited the steep, narrow Russell Fire Trail, dreamed dreams of getting rich at our expense, and is planning another 40-plus home development on an impossible site! Leonans fought a successful battle years ago to stop the Nubian Village plan at the same site a steep, narrow ridge of land which to date has only been able to support emergency access for fire crews on foot operating in the Leona Green Belt area.

The site is near the end of the eastern part of Leona Street, not far from the Leona Quarry, and a terrible place for a development. The last time the site was suggested, it became abundantly clear that any road to proposed home sites would be much too steep, much too narrow, and impossible for truck access and turnaround, let alone emergency vehicle operations. The nature of the topography is so steep that homesite construction would require high retaining walls and deep fills unacceptable to near neighbors. Water supply and storm and sewage drainage would exacerbate existing runoff and access problems. A water supply line from Ridgemont would require construction of a paved road through the Green Belt and would be completely unacceptable to neighbors.

Traffic increase, garbage collection, and large-truck deliveries would be a nightmare for this single-family-home-zoned area. If you have feelings or viewpoints on this as yet unofficial project, register your opinions at LeonaHeights\@yahoogroups.com.

In a more positive spirit, we offer cheers for Councilmember Desley Brooks' proposals to improve Leona Lodge. In addition, we welcome the many new families who have bought homes in our area, and we wish them happy strolls and good times with us.