After Tammi Relyea voiced neighbors’ concerns to city council last night about the home redesign and addition at 503 Kenneth Road, Northwest Glendale Homeowners’ Association Vice President Lawrence Kalfayan asked city council and staff to consider the following questions:
• Why did staff submit the project to DRB for approval before significant design issues were resolved?
• Why did DRB disagree so significantly with the design approved by staff?
• Why did DRB ultimately approve the design after its second hearing if significant issues remained unresolved? Does the two-hearing limit work?
• Why was unapproved work completed and repeatedly ignored with no apparent consequences?
• Despite repeated inquiries, we do not have answers to the following: Were neighbors properly notified? Did staff implement DRB conditions? Are they conditions or “recommendations”? Are they in the public record?
• Is the Applicant complying with DRB conditions/recommendations as construction continues?
• Are inspectors enforcing conditions/recommendations?
• Why is code enforcement left to neighbors?
• Is new design process/ design studio concept fatally flawed?
• Is this project out of control?
There were numerous beautiful trees on that property
that were cut down..is that legal? I used to drive up
Pacific Ave and look up to Kenneth Rd. and see those
lovely trees..Now you see this massive house ,no trees
it looks rather harsh.
Perhaps the DRB or whomever is in “control” of tree removal needs to review all the many benefits of trees. Trees put oxygen in the air, they clean our air, they provide much needed shade and beauty.
Maybe we need to inlist the “tree people” to patrol Glendale.
So many of our streets have been ruined by out of place structures and inappropriate landscaping or lack therof and removal of grand old trees!!
This home is situated at one of the prime entry ways into one of the nicest neighborhoods in Glendale. Is this what we want to look at, is this what we want our friends, family and all who enter this lovely area to see. Is this home going to be a representation of the fine architecture and lovely landscaping this area is known for. I am afraid we are going to have another ‘track’ home masquerading as a fine home in Glendale. It is such a shame what one poorly designed home can do to the image of a whole neighborhood. Not to mention the property values. I cannot believe that DRB dropped the ball again. Cronyism raises it’s ugly head again?
One of the reasons my husband and I purchased our property is because of the beautiful, archeturally designed homes that we see when driving down Kenneth Rd. I agree, the trees were breath taking. It’s a shame DRB once again dropped the ball. It’s important that we preserve the integrity of our neighborhood. What is it going to take?
This kind of thing happens all too often in Glendale. Property owners do what they please then negotiate with the City after the project is well along the way… often getting most of what the want. I hope that the DRB and or the City Council, if necessary, puts an end to this project as it stands and any construction work which was not properly approved should be torn down. This is a prominent home in an historical area and the neighbors should not be forced to put up with it. The Council members who understand and favor the significance of historical architecture and were elected on this platform should take a stance.
I agree that the prominent location of the home is a legitimate concern for neighbors.
Cutting down the trees has left an eyesore: with the front yard trees gone, the two-story house seem out of proportion for the lot and now makes the telephone poles and cable boxes along the parkway much more prominent.
Another question for neighbors and for Glendale: why didn’t the staff report cite the fact that the house just next door (to the west on Kenneth) is listed on a historic register of homes?
I am very dissappointed that the homeowners cut down the trees on this lot and are changing the house so much, I also wonder, is this legal??? How did this get thru DRB???