BURBANK : Talk Clears Way for Preservation Law

History lovers and business leaders in Burbank have come to a consensus, clearing the way for a historic preservation ordinance, after a summit meeting called by the city’s mayor.

Business interests in the city have looked warily on efforts by the Burbank Historical Society to create a preservation ordinance, fearing that it would infringe on the rights on the property owners and possibly restrict economic development.

But a meeting attended by representatives of the historical society, the Burbank Chamber of Commerce and the Burbank Board of Realtors, hosted by Mayor George Battey Jr., apparently has cleared the air. After a session lasting little more than an hour Wednesday afternoon, all sides reported that the major roadblocks had been removed.

“When the other parties were assured nothing would be done to violate the rights of the property owners and the historic designation would be made only after obtaining the consent of the owner, that relieved some concern,” said Ted Garcia, head of the historical society’s landmarks committee.

Based on the meeting, City Atty. Joseph Fletcher was instructed to insert in the proposed ordinance a series of steps that must be taken before a property could be designated historic. The change is designed to inform the owner, before giving consent for the designation, what it will mean.

A provision that would allow a designation to be appealed--in cases of economic hardship--may be inserted, Fletcher said.

The rewritten ordinance will be ready in January, Fletcher said. After the three sides review it, it would then go back to the City Council for approval.

Without a historic preservation ordinance, the city has been open for actions by the state, which last year designated a Bob’s Big Boy Restaurant on Riverside Drive as a historic landmark, despite the objections of the owner.

The three groups will meet again in January to go over the city attorney’s new draft of the ordinance.