Design commission applicant Todd Hamersumian says local character should guide decisions

Todd Hamersumian told the council he lives in La Cañada and brings professional experience in real estate and office management; he is also attending law school. "I am an office manager at the Berkshire Hathaway ... office on Foothill here," he said, explaining a long personal connection to the community and interest in protecting the town's character.

Hamersumian said decisions before the Design Commission often require balancing objective standards with on-the-ground common sense and urged pragmatic, solution-oriented approaches. Council members asked him about potential conflicts of interest if his business brought projects to the city; he said such projects have been rare in his company's history and said he would follow recusal rules where appropriate. The council will notify applicants of its decision on October 6.