Residents Will Discuss Creating ‘Valley Glen’

Residents will get a chance to answer the age-old question of what’s in a name at a meeting Monday of the Livable Neighborhood Council.

The focus of the discussion will be the proposal to change the name of a section of Van Nuys, between Burbank and Victory boulevards, to Valley Glen. The meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. at Valley College.

Sharon Mayer, an aide to Councilman Mike Feuer, who has the final say on the matter, said: “This is something a lot of people are very interested in and the councilman wants to address it.”

In November, more than 70% of the area’s homeowners signed a petition requesting the name change.

The Valley Glen area, which includes 1,200 homes, is bordered on the north and south by Victory and Burbank boulevards and on the east and west by Woodman Avenue and the Tujunga Wash. The area includes Valley College.

The petition and the request have been sitting on Feuer’s desk since mid-November. Valley Glen cannot become an official neighborhood without his approval.

Mayer said the councilman wants to open discussion to the public to hear from proponents and foes of the name change.

After the discussion, the Livable Neighborhood Council, a group of area representatives that includes the proposed Valley Glen section, will make a recommendation to Feuer.

If Feuer approves the change, his office will contact the city Department of Transportation, which will create new signs for the area, Mayer said.

The small section of Van Nuys is the latest Valley neighborhood to request a name change. Often, proponents have supported various changes to separate small neighborhoods from larger ones in an effort to distance themselves from the problems of the area, such as crime and lower property values.

In recent years, part of North Hollywood became Valley Village, a large section of Canoga Park became West Hills and Sepulveda was renamed North Hills.