City Wants Greenbelt on 235 Hillside Acres : Burbank, Builder Discuss Land Options

The purchase of 185 acres of hillside to preserve as open space was the subject of preliminary discussions this week between Burbank city officials and developer Sherman Whitmore, who owns the property.

The meeting, described by both sides as informal, was the first between the city and the developer since last October when the City Council rejected two residential developments Whitmore proposed for the hillside property. Whitmore said at that time that he might take legal action against the city for blocking the developments.

The council’s decision came after a four-month campaign by hundreds of Burbank residents who said the new homes would destroy the city’s last remaining natural preserve and create noise and traffic problems in nearby neighborhoods.

Appraiser Hired

The council voted in January to hire an appraiser to determine the value of that land and of another 50 acres adjacent to the Whitmore property. The land is designated as mountain reserve in the city’s general plan, and the council has already agreed that it would like to purchase the 235 acres to preserve as a greenbelt for public recreation.

Once a price can be affixed to the property, a special election will be called to ask the voters if they would support purchasing the land. City officials said they hoped to have an appraisal ready by the end of next month and that the special election could be held as soon as June.

The Tuesday meeting of Whitmore; his attorney, Brian Bird; Assistant City Manager George Nony, and Assistant City Atty. Douglas C. Holland focused on the city’s effort to write a ballot measure that would enable Burbank to purchase the land, Holland and Whitmore said.

Whitmore said the city disclosed financing options, including a proposal to swap another parcel of land in Burbank for the hillside property. Both Whitmore and Holland stressed, however, that the discussions were very informal and were meant only to keep Whitmore abreast on city efforts to acquire the land.

‘We Are Very Serious’

“This was not for the purpose of starting negotiations for the acquisition of the property,” Holland said. “We basically wanted to keep him appraised. We wanted to let him know that we are very serious about what we are doing.”

Whitmore described the meeting as a part of a “good-faith effort” by the city to move ahead on the hillside issue. He said that, although he would prefer to develop the property, he is willing to work with the city if it decides to purchase his land.

“They are trying to come up with something reasonable to put on as a ballot measure, which shows me the City Council and the mayor have acted in good faith and have kept their word,” Whitmore said. “Although I disagree with them about the developments, the council has acted in a thoroughly reasonable way vis-a-vis the voters of Burbank.”

Maps of New Proposals

City officials said Whitmore submitted tentative maps to the city on Tuesday for new proposals to develop his hillside property, which consists of 125-acre and 60-acre tracts. Whitmore said, however, that the maps are intended only “to get the ball rolling” and they will not be formally submitted to the Planning Department until after the ballot measure issue is resolved.

Whitmore said he expects to meet with city officials again next month when the city’s appraisal of the land is completed. The developer, who also has had the land appraised, said the two sides will then negotiate a price and means of payment that would appear on the ballot measure. He declined to disclose how much he thinks the land is worth.

Whitmore, although optimistic about the negotiations, said he would take legal action against the city if his new development proposals were denied by the council and the voters then rejected a ballot proposition to purchase the property. “I intend to pursue my rights,” he said.