THE GLENDALE PLANNING DEPARTMENT HAS SCHEDULED STUDY SESSIONS AT THE JUNE 18 (DRB 2) AND JULY 9 (DRB 1- subject to confirmation) DESIGN REVIEW BOARD MEETINGS to cover the process implemented over the last year and take public input.
Glendale’s Director of Planning Hassan Haghani and Assistant Director Tim Foy met last night with the Northwest Glendale Homeowners Association board to discuss problem projects in the neighborhood and an evolving approach to project tracking and enforcement.
Haghani said the message getting through to applicants is that they cannot get away with piecemealing the system by applying for one permit after another to skirt the design review process. Much of the meeting focused on 503 Kenneth Road (at the corner of Pacific), a stalled project which has dragged on at a conspicuous corner and which recently failed a framing inspection. Haghani said plainly, “We are not signing off on the framing.”
Planning staff found that no permit was ever issued for the roof, while visits to the property revealed at least 20 differences from what the Design Review Board specified and staff signed off on.
Staff counter approvals (which Haghani says are now reviewed by supervisors), Design Review Board open-ended conditions of approvals, and the two-hearing limit for any particular design are being studied by the Planning Department which will hold two public sessions to assess the review process (one with each Design Review board). Planning will bring recommendations for any changes in the process back to the city council.
Projects that skirt Design Review requirements or proceed blatantly without city approvals are going to be dealt with according to the rules, Haghani assured the homeowners board last night. In the case of 503 Kenneth and other projects, “We are going to hold them to the DRB plan that was approved.”