And so it goes...
Our Vision
Piedmont Pines will be a scenically beautiful, diverse community dedicated to quality schools, neighborhood safety and living in harmony with our natural environment.
Our Vision
Piedmont Pines will be a scenically beautiful, diverse community dedicated to quality schools, neighborhood safety and living in harmony with our natural environment.
An incorporated association representing 1350 properties has much more effect on the city planning process than any individual can possibly bring to bear. Its size also makes investment in legal expenses more feasible than if individuals acted alone.
After reviewing this brief snapshot, we hope you’ll agree that your membership dues now at $25 per year are an unbeatable bargain. If you’re not a current member, join now!
When Piedmont Pines Club was formed in 1941, it operated with two primary goals: To get neighbors acquainted and to provide an avenue for members to express themselves about community problems. There were business meetings, social events and action committees. Action committees stayed busy with building restrictions, streets, transportation, and construction of new schools. There was even a Plans Approval Committee that reviewed every new house, concentrating on two questions: Is the builder doing a good job for the buyer? Is the house in keeping with its surroundings? Such authority is no longer legal, but it served to make Piedmont Pines the special place it is today.
In 2004, we changed our name from Piedmont Pines Club, Inc., to Piedmont Pines Neighborhood Association and reincorporated as a nonprofit PUBLIC BENEFIT CORPORATION, 501 (c)4.
Accomplishments Spanning 70 Years
Utility Undergrounding: 20-year Wait Pays Off
Perhaps our longest fought battle, this is also among our proudest moments of the new century. You can read more detail in our Undergrounding section, but here’s a quick synopsis: In 1987, we got in line for ratepayer-subsidized utility undergrounding. In 1998, we rose to the top of the list. For the next several years, we fought the utilities, the public utilities commission and even the state legislature to have public safety (primarily fires from fallen lines and emergency vehicle access) included as criteria for undergrounding. The outcome would determine if all or only a portion of our streets were included. Through a series of compromises, we won approval to have our main “arterial” streets undergrounded in three phases, with construction of Phase 1 along Ascot to begin January 2010. Phases 2 (Chelton) and 3 (Castle) will follow if residents there vote to establish an assessment district to pay for the city’s share of the cost.
Montclair Organized Neighborhoods: Prepare for Emergencies, Prevent Crime, Know One Another
In conjunction with Montclair Safety and Improvement Council, Piedmont Pines set a very aggressive goal to organize 100% of its neighborhoods into roughly 40-home areas, each with a block captain, a roster, and a schedule for training on crime prevention, emergency preparedness—and, of course, socializing. Neighbors who know one another (a challenge in these busy times) do more to protect one another than any band of city agencies can ever do. Starting in 2004 with about seven neighborhoods organized in one fashion or another, we’ll close out 2009 with boundaries identified for 35 neighborhoods: 21 are organized; we have 14 to go.
Castle Canyon (2006): Victory for Open Space
The land bordered by Castle Drive on the east and Mastlands Drive/Larry Lane on the west was at one time 30 acres threatened by a huge development. Two neighbors each purchased 10 acre portions, leaving the last 10 acres open to development. In 1999, the developer proposed 17 homes. The association went into high gear, gathering environmentalists, slope engineers and attorneys to fight what would have been a very dangerous development. In 2006, we emerged triumphant with a compromise that allowed four homes: two at the top of the canyon and two on the southern side near Castle Park Way. Eight acres were purchased by the City after our successful lobbying to use Measure K funds. This land is now part of Joaquin Miller Park. The Joaquin Miller study group assessed the area in great detail and determined it should be left as wild, open space after considering such options as basketball courts, tot lots, and picnic areas.
Keeping Residents Informed
In 1999, we created the beginning of an e-mail network which has now grown to over 900 addresses, enabling us to communicate electronically on nearly a monthly basis with members about upcoming events, crime waves, association business, Montclair-wide issues. Our budget would not accommodate communication at this frequency using snail mail. We’ve also instituted an emergency call system where we can, for example, alert residents at work if there’s an emergency or urgent situation in the neighborhood.
Our website was born in 2002, thanks to PPNA resident and volunteer Jayne Hofer of Skyline Design. It includes an Open Forum for members to exchange commentary on issues of concern and to share recommendations about service providers. We also seriously upgraded our Annual Meetings and moved them to Chabot Space and Science Center, where we now enjoy a standing room only crowd.
Mail and Identity Theft (2003): Victory Over Rampant Thefts
While mail and identity theft were raging throughout the country, Piedmont Pines, in conjunction with Montclair Safety and Improvement Council, implemented a wide-reaching public information campaign on protection techniques. We urged the replacement of ALL non-locking mailboxes, and worked closely with USPS and local law enforcement to demonstrate to thieves: we’re on alert and not worth your trouble. Mail theft reports have dropped substantially, thanks primarily to the deterrence created by residents who installed locking mailboxes.
Secondary Units: Battled Loosening of Parking Restrictions
The association participated in the public debate to oppose loosening of parking restrictions and permitting requirements for Secondary Units. We continue to monitor this issue’s impact on our serious parking and traffic problems.
Sulphur Springs & Painted Rocks (Marj Saunders Park): Beautifcation of our Welcome Mat
The association has prevented development and deterioration of Sulphur Springs at Ascot and Chelton and has advocated in favor of our neighborhood “newspaper,” the Painted Rocks. Each year, in conjunction with Earth Day in September and Creek to Bay Day in September, the association sets aside a weeding and clean-up day for that area in order to keep the welcome mat into Piedmont Pines pristine. In 2004, the park was dedicated and renamed, Marj Saunders Park.
View Ordinance: Victory for Protection of As-Purchased Views
The association lobbied successfully for inclusion of a property owners right to maintain the view at the time they purchased their home. Note: It is very important to take photographs at the time of purchase.
Fire Suppression: Victory Over Brush Removal
Long before the advent of Green Bins for yard debris, the association organized chipping services throughout its neighborhoods. This service reduced fire fuel and helped keep yards neat and tidy. Today, to supplement Green Bin disposal and city-provided free chipping services, the association sponsors a debris dumpster at two to three locations each year during Earth Day (April) and Creek to Bay Day (September).
CalTrans: Victory for Representation of Hills’ Interests
We’ve worked with CalTrans on three fronts: 1) Defeated a sound wall along Hwy 13 from Joaquin Miller Road to Park Blvd; 2) Won the agency’s concession to relandscape Hwy 13 after the median barriers were replaced (the plants are very slow-growing, however); and 3) Continually report trash and sign blockage issues.
City-owned Land on Skyline Boulevard: Victory for Open Space
The association has protected City-owned lots along Skyline Boulevard from sale and development. The association has lobbied for replacement of parkland that was taken over during construction of the Chabot Space and Science Center.
Beaconsfield Canyon (1987): Victory for Open Space
The association convinced the City to buy the property that surrounds the Painted Rocks thus defeating a 16-home development. The land remains as open space.
Widening Skyline Blvd (1974): Victory Against Intrusion
The association defeated a plan to widen Skyline Blvd. into a four lane highway.
Chelton slide restoration (1968): Pressure on City Agencies
A huge slide on Chelton near Chelsea blocked the road for 2 years. Piedmont Pines association stepped in to add pressure on city agencies to get the slide removed and the road reopened.
Shell Oil Pipeline (1965): Victory Against Intrusion
The association successfully lobbied against this intrusive installation along Skyline Blvd.
Sewers (1962): Victory for Modernization
The association pushed for and won a long-delayed replacement of septic tanks with sewers.
Schools (1949): Victory for Education
The association lobbied to end bussing our children into Glenview, and successfully negotiated the purchase of the old Boy Scout Camp,"Camp Diamond," now the site of both Joaquin Miller Elementary and Montera Middle schools. The property cost $52,000, $25,000 of which was raised from neighbors through subscriptions.