Few at Hearing Oppose Slow-Growth Plan

Glendale’s slow-growth plan met with only minor opposition last Thursday during the first of three Planning Commission hearings to test public reaction to the proposal.

The plan calls for reducing the number of apartments, condominiums and townhouses allowed citywide by about half. About 20 people attended the hearing for north Glendale homeowners at Clark Community Center and about a dozen spoke. A slight majority seemed to oppose the plan, but city planners expressed relief that there was no strong opposition to the plan.

“So far so good,” said Planning Director John McKenna. “We have to see what happens in the next hearings.”

At those hearings, planners will hear from people most directly affected by the proposed changes--south Glendale homeowners. The overwhelming majority of the city’s neighborhoods zoned for multifamily construction are south of the Ventura Freeway.

At last Thursday’s hearing, some residents complained that the proposal seeks a citywide solution to the growth problem even though population growth is largely confined to the southern neighborhoods.

“While the plan may be very adequate for the flat areas of south Glendale, it does not give consideration to the types of topography in the northern hillside areas,” Tom Heyward said.

Another complaint came from homeowners who said the proposed building restrictions would lower their property values. McKenna denied that.

“If they build a nice, small condo, a good quality development, the value will probably be equal” to the larger buildings now allowed, he said.

Several homeowners praised the slow-growth plan as a way to maintain what is left of Glendale’s suburban flavor.

“I’m very proud to live in Glendale,” said Thomas Beck, another speaker. “But if we don’t do something soon, this city is going to start resembling Van Nuys.”

The next hearing, for south Glendale residents, is scheduled at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Public Library auditorium on Harvard Street.