BURBANK : Warner Bros. Plans Dozen New Buildings

Warner Bros. Studios has unveiled its plans to expand and consolidate its entertainment business operations in Burbank over the next 20 years.

The media industry giant hopes to build a dozen new office buildings, several new sound stages and other studio production facilities totaling nearly 5.8 million square feet at both its main studio lot at 4000 Warner Blvd. and its so-called Ranch lot at 3701 Oak St.

“They presently have office space and production space in a lot of different locations, including Glendale and surrounding parts of Los Angeles, in buildings not owned by Warner Bros.,” said Greg Herrmann, a project planner for the city of Burbank. “They would like to consolidate their operations here so they can be more efficient.”

Just last month, Warner Bros. announced it would open its new feature animation division, which will employ up to 400 people, at an office building in Glendale. Studio officials said the expansion plan will help the studio avoid having to keep offices in surrounding areas and will bring more of the company’s jobs into Burbank.

“Warner Bros. has been a significant part of the Burbank economy and a major community employer for more than six decades. The master plan reconfirms our company’s commitment to continuing that relationship,” Dan Garcia, vice president of real estate planning, said in a statement.

The master plan is divided into two phases. A large portion of the proposed construction would occur during Phase 1, from 1995 through 2000, while the second phase of the work would be spread out over a longer period, from 2000 to 2015.

The proposed construction includes:

* Four 15-story office buildings on the main studio lot, plus three or four five-story office buildings. Five five-story office buildings are proposed on the Ranch lot.

* Demolition of about 400,000 square feet of existing buildings on the main lot and about 100,000 square feet of existing buildings on the Ranch lot.

* Construction of four parking structures on the main lot and one six-story parking structure on the Ranch lot.

* Construction of one sound stage on each lot.

City officials said a consultant has been hired to prepare an environmental impact report on the master plan. A series of community meetings to gather opinions from affected residents, businesses and property owners will begin early next year.