Council backs neighborhood centers

The City Council gave its backing Tuesday night to mixed-use

developments in neighborhood centers around the city although it

wanted to limit the size of those projects so they wouldn’t encroach

onto residential areas.

City staff members were directed to come up with a lower density

level for the developments that are to be part of a proposed land-use

plan the council will adopt next year.

Without a change in the density, which could allow two- or

three-story buildings, council members expected opposition from

residents who live near the neighborhood centers.

“It’s foolish to go down a path the neighborhoods will not

support,” Councilman Dave Golonski said.

The neighborhood center concept -- pedestrian friendly collections

of small businesses, and possibly residential space, meant to serve

an immediate area -- is to be included within the city’s overall

land-use plan that will govern growth over the next 20 to 30 years.

Some of the areas identified by staff members as potential

neighborhood centers are Olive and Verdugo avenues; Hollywood Way and

Victory Boulevard; Main Street and Alameda Avenue; and Glenoaks

Boulevard and Scott Road.

The council’s discussion on mixed-use projects and neighborhood

centers came during a study session in which staff members sought

direction on whether to include the concept in the plan in light of

the rejection last month of a proposed mixed-use development at

Glenoaks Boulevard and Keeler Avenue.

Council members, however, explained they turned that project down

because of the density that would have allowed the 34 residential

units and 2,600 square feet of office or retail space.

“I still have a commitment to continue with the centers,” Mayor

Jef Vander Borght said. “It wasn’t that the concept was incorrect but

it was the density.”

Vice Mayor Todd Campbell said he opposed the Glenoaks project

because he wasn’t sure if it would be successful.

“We need to balance the need to provide additional housing stock

with the chance to renew the commercial face [of certain areas] so we

take steps toward removing existing blight,” Campbell said.

Golonski warned of not getting caught up in the recommendations of

consultants who want to urbanize the city.

He didn’t consider Burbank to be an urban area and thought that

residents didn’t either, Golonski said.

“I think a suburban feel would win out,” Golonski said.