Burbank City Council to decide fate of proposed apartment complex

The fate of a proposed four-story apartment complex atop a Whole Foods market in Burbank’s Media District is expected to be decided Tuesday when the City Council votes on the project.

The council postponed voting on the controversial Talaria at Burbank project last week after an overflow audience showed up to weigh in on it.

The project includes a four-level, 241-unit apartment complex built above a Whole Foods and parking garages with 751 spaces. The market will feature a full-service restaurant and bar with outdoor seating.

Developer Michael Cusumano has said the retail-resident complex, which is within walking distance of NBC Studios and Warner Bros., will offer high-end apartments that are in short supply in Burbank.

But the project has been criticized by neighboring residents, largely because of concerns about traffic and possible environmental impacts.

Several Burbank business owners and business advocates said they support the development, arguing that it will create jobs, attract highly skilled professionals and benefit local businesses.

“It will create jobs and contracts,” said Michael McCormick, owner of Burbank-based McCormick Construction Co.

George Orloff, a surgeon at Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center, said Talaria would attract young healthcare professionals to the nearby hospital.

“It’s all part and parcel of us trying to recruit and retain people, the best people, young people,” Orloff said.

Residents near the project had a different take. Traffic was the dominant concern.

“We have too much traffic on our street as it is,” Jeannie Davis, who said she lives about half a block from the proposed site, told council members. “It’s just going to be not livable in that area.”

Dave Golonski, the city’s former mayor, said he supported the project but that it was clear residents had “lost their tranquillity” because of traffic problems. He advised the council to “give those people back their neighborhood.”

Golonski suggested funding construction of cul-de-sacs through an increased contribution from the developer for traffic mitigation and the use of the $1.2 million the developer has offered to pay for the purchase of city-owned property.

Though council members put off making a decision until Tuesday, it appeared residents may have persuaded them to address the traffic issue.

“We definitely need some neighborhood protection down there for those people, whether this project is accepted or denied,” said Councilman Gary Bric.

Councilman Jess Talamantes said he would want city staff to install temporary concrete barriers to block off the neighborhood from cut-through traffic.

“We need cul-de-sacs on all those four streets,” Talamantes said. “We need them tomorrow.”

chad.garland@latimes.com