BURBANK : City Will Purchase Site for $2.9 Million

The city of Burbank has purchased for $2.9 million a small piece of land that city officials say could clear the way for a new police/fire department complex as well as parking and commercial development in the city’s downtown.

The City Council voted 3 to 1 Tuesday night, with Councilman Dave Golonski dissenting, to buy the 42,000-square-foot parcel on North Glenoaks Boulevard offered by owner Gregory C. Varon. A Great Grill restaurant is the only occupant. A Kentucky Fried Chicken building was vacated last week, city officials said.

“I talked to some brokers; they couldn’t believe the money we’re discussing for this property,” Golonski said. “I don’t think there’s a compelling need to own this property.”

Community Development Director Robert Tague said the land, selling at $69.50 a square foot, is at the upper end of a $65 to $70 range that city officials determined to be a reasonable price.

The city would have to pay much more if it had to acquire the property through condemnation, Tague said.

“Why would we want to pay him at near the top rate?” resident Ted McConkey said. “That’s outrageous. This man made an unsolicited bid to the city. This is not much of a negotiation.”

The rest of the block, between Glenoaks Boulevard, 3rd Street, and Palm and Orange Grove avenues, is already owned by the city. Officials said the additional parcel could mean a better design for a police/fire complex and a less expensive parking design. Part of the property could be used for commercial development to accentuate business in the shopping areas around San Fernando Road.

Golonski also objected to buying the parcel because the money could be used to pay for the new complex, which he said already has enough space on the site.

“I really believe that we’re going to be kicking ourselves saying shoulda, coulda, woulda, five, 10 years down the road if we don’t do this,” Vice Mayor Bill Wiggins said before the vote.

Mayor George Battey said he also believed that while the price offered by Varon was high, the property had potential and could also be used as a site for a library.