Officials to weigh Burbank Hills gates proposal

The Planning Board on Monday is slated to consider a proposal to add gates to a residential neighborhood in Burbank’s hillside, marking the neighborhood’s fourth attempt at such a request.

The Burbank Hills Community Homeowners Assn. has requested entry and exit gates at the two main entrances of the neighborhood, where Lamer Street crosses Castleman and Wedgewood lanes.

City officials have recommended the board deny the request, citing safety concerns. For example, the gates could slow down response times or cause evacuation delays during an emergency, according to a city report.

Also, approving the proposal would set a precedent for future development, as there are no other gated communities in the city, the report stated.

The City Council has denied the request three times since 1987, twice citing concerns about restricting access from emergency personnel, the report stated. Most recently, the council denied the gates in 2010 because they did not see a need for them, according to the document.

The board’s recommendation will be passed on to the City Council for review.
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Follow Alene Tchekmedyian on Google+ and on Twitter: @atchek.

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