Save the Rancho in Burbank

The Burbank Rancho neighborhood is one of the city's most unique features, especially if you're a horse or horse owner.  The homes are zoned (most of them) to allow the stabling and boarding of horses in the back yard.  There are Griffith Park riding trails close by, and the neighborhood blends into the Glendale Rancho area.  It is also home to the L.A. Equestrian Center.  The residents are understandably very protective of the Rancho and have faced -- and beaten -- challenges to development over the years.

Now, the GM training facility in the neighborhood has been sold, and the new developer wants to put up a 50-unit detached condo complex.  Most of the Rancho neighbors object as it affects the neighborhood's character and is just too damned big.  Last night's Burbank City Council held public comments on the issue and predictably, it was running about 20-0 against the project (some of the comments were, uh, very um, racist inappropriate).  The objecting area residents seem to favor an equine hospital instead.  If you'd like to learn more about this issue, please visit SavetheRancho.com.  Where do I stand? I understand why developers like big projects -- it's more money for them.  But why do cities like big projects? Why must all development be big, with all of bigness's attendant problems? If not the horse vet center, why not, say, 10 homes zoned for horses, such as the Dincara Street development?

Burbank's Magnolia Blvd. now has three gun stores

How many gun stores does one Burbank street need? Lots, apparently. Magnolia Boulevard now has three gun stores within the mile between Victory and Buena Vista. Is there that much demand in that neighborhood? (I'd like to point out that there are only two bars in the same stretch of road. Probably a good thing, considered.) Is this what the Magnolia Park folks (the merchants association) had in mind? Is this what the city council had in mind? Is this the same city council that would not allow new restaurant establishments on the same stretch of road a few years back because patrons might park on surrounding residential streets? Um, priorities?

The NBC Universal Expansion Plan, Burbank and the Burbank Leader

Today's Burbank Leader has an article about the NBC Universal Expansion plan and how it may effect Burbank.  The environment impact report link is here -- but it's 27 volumes.  Burbank's Community Development Department is in the process of reviewing the report's findings, and comments about the report can be submitted to the City Council by Jan. 3.  The report states that traffic will only be minimally impacted, because everybody will take the bus.  Oh, please.

Burbank low flow toilet and water saving devices -- new rules from Burbank city council

This week, Burbank city council passed new water saving retrofit requirements.  Burbank will now require low-flow toilets and other water-saving devices in every home, just like the city of L.A..  These will need to be installed when a residence sells or otherwise changes hands.  Here's the article from the Burbank Leader.  On behalf of our clients, we Realtors have opposed this due to the cost, hassle and dubious actual water savings, but see the 2009 video above -- Dave Golonski, for one, did not care what Realtors think.

Burbank building permits are not good until the end of time

Much to the dismay of local developers, Burbank City Council recently voted to stop extending the expiration dates of building permits. This means that a project that was permitted, oh, say, during the Reagan administration, but was never built, will now have to go through the permitting review process again. Read the Burbank Leader story here. Most of the developers who are affected by the vote had approved plans from two to three years ago (the permits are good for at least a year) but could not get the necessary financing to begin construction.

I say, good. (And yes, I'm a NIMBY: I'm delighted that a planned huge apartment complex will now not be built behind my house.) I know of several previously-approved projects that would not have been in keeping with the neighborhood character, would have added additional traffic to the surrounding streets, and are of questionable need anyway. Times change and communities do, too -- and I think it's worthwhile to reexamine permitted, unbuilt projects to make sure they will be a good fit in the future.

Also, as my friend Ellen Dimler stated so succinctly in the Leader article: "The power of one council must not extend indefinitely.”

Big Box Rumors

First, the news I'm most excited about. Whole Foods may not be done with Burbank just yet. With all the big box retailers closing, there may be some "back channel" discussions going on regarding finally, finally opening a store here. You may recall that the Burbank City Council, and local residents, put the kaboosh on a Burbank Ranch-area store.

Next. Macy's announced store closings. So far, the Burbank, Glendale, and Sherman Oaks stores are safe. Yah!

And finally, Jon's grocery store is going into where the Von's on San Fernando used to be.

Never to early to celebrate Halloween here in Burbank

I'm sure nobody wants to be left behind in the mad rush to purchase Halloween gear. Here's Halloween Town, on Magnolia Boulevard in Burbank, for all of your paraphernalia needs. Several years ago, a nice casual dining establishment was planned for this spot. But the Burbank city council, in their infinite wisdom, determined that a year-round Halloween store would serve the community much better. That's right, HT is open all year, for all of your costuming and horror needs.

More on sober living - the Burbank City Council weighs in

If you've read this post before, you know about the controversy over sober-living facilities in Burbank. You also know where I stand on this.

According to the Burbank Leader, the Burbank City Council has asked its staff to look into ways to monitor and potentially impose stricter regulations on local group homes. State and federal laws prohibit cities from restricting members of a "family" from living together. Apparently, that family can't have more than 7 people living together without a conditional use permit.

One of the principal planners quoted in the article indicates that Burbank may tighten the definition of what "family" is.

Am I the only person who thinks this is a slippery slope and the City is vastly overreaching? Am I the only person who thinks that a municipality has no business in defining what a "family" is?

If these sober-living facilities are a hazard to the surrounding community, then this is a law enforcement issue. The solution is to put more cops on the street.

Burbank City's Response

In response to my query about the monster-sized house (see post below), here's the response I received from Burbank city senior planner Patrick Prescott: "I did not receive the photos you attached, but I have spoken with Tom Zartl and reviewed the plans for 1053 East Elmwood. The home in question is built at a four foot side yard setback. This setback meets the minimum requirement for side yards, which is 10% of the width of the lot. The average width of the lot is 45 feet; therefore, the required side yard setback is four feet. The lot size is 12,940 square feet and the floor area (including the 34 square foot portion of the garage over 600 square feet) is 5,162 square feet. The floor area ratio for this property is 40%, which is the maximum lot coverage allowed. The maximum height in the R1 zone is 30 feet. The highest point of the home at 1053 East Elmwood is 29’-10”, which complies with code." I still say this violates the spirit, if not the letter, of the anti-mansionization codes.

Just in Time for Halloween: a Monster (-Sized) House!

It's a Walmart!...It's an apartment building!...no, it's the side and front views of a single family home being built smack in the middle of a residential street in Burbank. How did something this big make it past Burbank City's Planning Department or the permitting people? And what's become of our vaunted anti-mansionization laws? How'd the builder manage to encroach on the neighbor's property? Are Burbank lots subdividable after all? If you know the answers to any of these questions, please blog back.

More on Evergreen and Magnolia; Meeting on the 25th

Friend-and-Evergreen-resident Ellen writes about the Evergreen burger stand: "FYI they shot on Tuesday at the burger stand and were so very informative and respectful of our neighborhood as they crammed up the street with all kinds of trucks and cars and trailers! I came home at 7:30 and it felt like they had SWEPT the street!! I guess word around town is that Evergreen is not a neighborhood to mess with!!! We've won small concessions, I guess. BUT, if the amount of traffic for ONE day of shooting is anything like the construction crews to dig out _3_ levels of underground parking for months on end....YIKES!!! And you KNOW they'll be twice as many vehicles...I imagine our little street littered and battered every day of the week once that [building] starts...We've got a city council meeting on the 25th to see if the council will restrict the construction worker's parking along our little street...pray we succeed!!"