Glendale will evaluate its downtown plan as a way to slow development in the area
Councilman Ara Najarian made good on a campaign promise during Tuesday’s City Council meeting by seeking a 45-day moratorium on approvals of dense apartment buildings in downtown Glendale. In related action, staff will begin to study ways to adjust the incentives provided to developers in that zoning area.
The City Council had initially asked that staff review alternatives to the current incentives for developers in the Downtown Specific Plan, as well as the possible implementation of new impact fees for construction in the downtown area. A moratorium on associated residential mixed-use and multifamily development was sought in conjunction with the request, while city staff reviewed alternative development standards.
Incentives as outlined in the downtown plan encourage developers to create projects with public benefits in mind, such as providing open space or including affordable housing. Qualifying projects are given a bonus in the form of additional height or density.
“Our report was that we pretty much maxed out on housing [in the DSP] and we haven’t had many applicants for commercial [development],” Najarian said. “The hotel designs that I’ve seen up to this point, including ones that have been through [the review] process, I don’t have any problem with.”
The moratorium is expected to be presented to the City Council for review in two weeks.
According to Philip Lanzafame, the city’s director of community development, a comprehensive study on whether to modify or altogether remove incentives from the DSP, along with other suggested amendments, would take a minimum of one year.
“We’ll bring those things back as we can, but it will take a while,” he told the council.
For years, Najarian has had to defend himself against ongoing complaints that he along with some former council members adversely contributed to the rapid growth in the downtown area.
Najarian previously admitted that during 2011 and 2012 the city’s push for growth in the downtown area happened too fast and Glendale was unprepared for the sudden impact on traffic and density.
In 2011, Najarian voted in favor of the Legendary Towers, Verdugo Gardens, Laemmle Lofts and Lex on Orange projects. The following year, he voted for the approval of the Brand Apartments, but he rejected the Camden Glendale Apartments, then known as the Glendale Triangle Project.
By 2013 and beyond, Najarian had voted against the Harrison, Next on Lex and Altana apartments. He also voted against Modera Glendale, Onyx Glendale, the Campus apartments and a mixed-use project located at 515 West Broadway in 2014. He did, however, vote in favor of the Aloft hotel.
Twitter: @JeffLanda
