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Sgt. Scott Studenmund, a 2008 graduate from Flintridge Preparatory School in La Cañada Flintridge, was killed June 9, 2014 in Afghanistan. (Courtesy of Flintridge Prep / July 29, 2015) |
Several Jarvis Avenue neighbors of the family of the late Army Staff Sgt. Scott Studenmund turned out for the Planning Commission meeting Tuesday night to support his mother Jaynie’s variance request to build a 25-foot flagpole in his honor on their property.
Studenmund, a 2008 Flintridge Preparatory School graduate, died in June 2014 in the Zabul Province of Afghanistan as a Green Beret sniper and combat diver in the U.S. Army’s Special Forces Unit. He was honored this year during the city’s Memorial Day Service.
A variance to display the large, 40-square-foot flag was required because the pole exceeds the maximum height allowed in city code by 10 feet. Jaynie Studenmund said the flagpole is replacing what was a large statue and fountain of a nude woman that sat on the property for several years under its previous ownership. Neighbors considered the statue an eyesore and alleged that pond scum accumulated there due to lack of maintenance.
The request was ultimately approved on a 3-1 vote, with Chairman Jeffrey McConnell opposing.
“This will seem extremely callous,” McConnell said. “I cannot approve this as presented. This is one of those situations where what is right is not what is allowed [by code]. Therefore, luckily there are three members here who will say ‘yes.’”
Commission Vice Chairman Thomas Smith said the city has to live with the current zoning code that allows for maximum height of a flagpole of 15 feet and maximum flag size of 20 square feet.
“I don’t see why a flagpole is an accessory to the zoning code,” he said.
McConnell said he believes there is “every reason” to fly a flag if a property owner wishes to do so, and he will bring it up when the commission works on the zoning code revision.
“I’m very happy it got approved,” Studenmund said. “The city of La Cañada has been wonderful. It is merely to pay tribute to him.”
The Studenmunds recently moved back to La Cañada Flintridge from Pasadena. The family had called La Cañada home just prior to moving to the larger neighboring city.
Following Tuesday’s meeting, Jaynie Studenmund said they plan to rotate the flags, using the flag flown in Kandahar in honor of Scott at a ceremony three days after he died; the flag flown in his honor at his base in Fort Campbell, Ky., which is home to the storied 5th Special Forces Group; and the flag flown in Scott’s honor over the U.S Capitol in Washington, D.C. She said her son “loved La Cañada, but he loved our country more.”
In an email to the Valley Sun Wednesday morning, Jaynie’s husband Woody Studenmund, who was out of town and unable to attend the meeting, wrote that another very important flag is Scott's personal flag from Afghanistan, which he had with him at his forward operating base.
“The flag flown over the U.S. Capitol is from Congressman Schiff who came to Scott's service at Arlington National Cemetery,” he said. “Most of the flags are 3 by 5, but the one from Schiff is 5 by 8, hence the need for a larger flagpole.”
Matt Sanderson is a contributing writer.
Studenmund, a 2008 Flintridge Preparatory School graduate, died in June 2014 in the Zabul Province of Afghanistan as a Green Beret sniper and combat diver in the U.S. Army’s Special Forces Unit. He was honored this year during the city’s Memorial Day Service.
A variance to display the large, 40-square-foot flag was required because the pole exceeds the maximum height allowed in city code by 10 feet. Jaynie Studenmund said the flagpole is replacing what was a large statue and fountain of a nude woman that sat on the property for several years under its previous ownership. Neighbors considered the statue an eyesore and alleged that pond scum accumulated there due to lack of maintenance.
The request was ultimately approved on a 3-1 vote, with Chairman Jeffrey McConnell opposing.
“This will seem extremely callous,” McConnell said. “I cannot approve this as presented. This is one of those situations where what is right is not what is allowed [by code]. Therefore, luckily there are three members here who will say ‘yes.’”
Commission Vice Chairman Thomas Smith said the city has to live with the current zoning code that allows for maximum height of a flagpole of 15 feet and maximum flag size of 20 square feet.
“I don’t see why a flagpole is an accessory to the zoning code,” he said.
McConnell said he believes there is “every reason” to fly a flag if a property owner wishes to do so, and he will bring it up when the commission works on the zoning code revision.
“I’m very happy it got approved,” Studenmund said. “The city of La Cañada has been wonderful. It is merely to pay tribute to him.”
The Studenmunds recently moved back to La Cañada Flintridge from Pasadena. The family had called La Cañada home just prior to moving to the larger neighboring city.
Following Tuesday’s meeting, Jaynie Studenmund said they plan to rotate the flags, using the flag flown in Kandahar in honor of Scott at a ceremony three days after he died; the flag flown in his honor at his base in Fort Campbell, Ky., which is home to the storied 5th Special Forces Group; and the flag flown in Scott’s honor over the U.S Capitol in Washington, D.C. She said her son “loved La Cañada, but he loved our country more.”
In an email to the Valley Sun Wednesday morning, Jaynie’s husband Woody Studenmund, who was out of town and unable to attend the meeting, wrote that another very important flag is Scott's personal flag from Afghanistan, which he had with him at his forward operating base.
“The flag flown over the U.S. Capitol is from Congressman Schiff who came to Scott's service at Arlington National Cemetery,” he said. “Most of the flags are 3 by 5, but the one from Schiff is 5 by 8, hence the need for a larger flagpole.”
Matt Sanderson is a contributing writer.
