Howard Unveils Ballot Measure to Restrict Growth in Burbank

Burbank City Councilwoman Mary Lou Howard on Tuesday proposed a ballot measure aimed at checking runaway apartment construction by limiting zone changes and forcing developers to meet stricter environmental and design standards.

A similar slow-growth measure has been suggested by one council member and another is under consideration by the mayor. However, Howard said her version is the most comprehensive, and she left open the possibility that it could be amended to include some provisions sought by the other two council members.

Burbank developers have actively fought slow-growth measures in the past. But Howard said she is counting on Burbank citizens to support her plan.

“We have had a lot of controversy in the city--a lot of angry residents come to the council meetings,” Howard said. “The community is basically upset with the number of multi-family developments going in . . . and what that has done to parking and traffic and so on.”

In its draft version, Howard’s proposal emphasizes the need for public comment on development. It limits zone changes requiring general plan amendments to once every five years, expands environmental review of apartment proposals to include more social and economic considerations, and requires the study of more stringent apartment design standards and higher developer fees for parks and roads.

“It will ensure that the people are involved in the process right from the beginning,” she said.

Howard plans to ask the city attorney to review her proposal and then have the council vote next Tuesday on putting it on February’s ballot. If the council refuses her request, she said she will try to gather the signatures necessary to qualify the measure herself.

Councilman Michael Hastings tried to get council backing a year ago for his proposed ordinance to restrict residential density and heights of office buildings. But only Howard supported his proposal. Hastings is circulating petitions to qualify his proposal for the February ballot.

Howard said she does not like Hastings’ strict limits on the volume, but supports his quest to let the voters decide.

Mayor Al Dossin also has a slow-growth plan, but said he would get involved only if Howard’s approach does not satisfy him. Dossin called Hastings’ proposal too rigid and said he had hoped to move toward more careful master planning through council action on the general plan, rather than through a public vote.

“I’ve got some things all put together,” Dossin said. “I’ve just been sitting back, waiting to see what everyone else has put together.”

A 1985 City Council vote on a temporary building moratorium was supported only by Howard, who introduced it, and Hastings. Howard said Tuesday that she fears her latest attempt will meet the same fate.

“I hope I’m wrong,” she said. “I hope the council has been listening to the people.”