Three-Story Foothill Project Denied; Citizen Opposition to Project Included Medical Office Glut, Water Use
The Glendale City Council voted Tuesday 4-0 to uphold Design Review Board 2’s denial of a proposed three-story development on 3522 Foothill Blvd. Council member Laura Friedman recused herself as she had reviewed the first version of the project during her tenure on Design Review.
Although the project was denied because it didn’t meet Design Review Board conditions, citizens showed up in force with well-researched arguments against unwarranted development. Two highlights: facts about an apparent medical office glut in the area, and water use averages.
Sharon Weisman remarked on an area medical office space glut – banners advertising space for lease much closer to Verdugo Hills Hospital, the newly completed complex at Broadview and Verdugo, and another proposed medical office building planned for Verdugo Blvd.
The water shortage is a sore subject for Glendale residents who wonder why new multi-unit buildings are approved while a water rationing plan is in effect. Bill Weisman brought this up. With respect to the proposed project, “My concern regarding water and sewer usage estimates is that they represent a significant increase over and above the current usage levels – 500 gallons a day, at the standard retail use of 80 gallons a day per 1,000 square feet.” Wiseman said that medical/general offices are “much thirstier,” consuming on average 250 gallons per day per 1000 square feet. “Since the proposed project is 80 percent medical and general, and 20 percent retail, most of the building is going to be using water at the higher rate. The net daily increase in daily water usage will be 7,758 gallons per day. Assuming the building is open 250 days a year, the net annual increase is 2 million gallons which doesn’t include potable water for landscape irrigation.”
The City Council likely would have denied the project without the above and other salient comments from La Crescenta residents. The relevant citizen concerns expressed at last night’s meeting should still guide their decisionmaking when the next big project comes along.
Just to clarify – the net annual increase in water use would be almost 2 million (not 250 million) gallons per year.
7,758 X 250 = 1,939,500
If I actually said 250 million gallons at the meeting, then I misspoke – big time!
You did not! I mis-heard the number 250 twice (250 days per year, 250 million gallons…). The post has been corrected to reflect the proper calculation.