So, you wanna open up shop in Burbank ...

Jackson Bell

When Mitch Gerhardt and his family-owned and -operated business,

Gerhardt Gear Co. Inc., decided to relocate to a larger building, the

city of Burbank bombarded them with stipulations.

For instance they are not allowed to work later than 9 p.m. on

weekdays, 3 p.m. on Saturdays and they cannot work at all on Sundays.

And because of parking limitations, they are allowed only 50

employees.

But to Gerhardt and his 21-year-old family business, the

restrictions imposed by the city are strict but reasonable. Their new

Burbank location is adjacent to a residential area, after all.

He doesn’t mind the rules because being in Burbank is worth it.

“We like the way the city is run,” he said. “There is no graffiti,

a low crime rate and the property value is better than neighboring

cities.”

New businesses or existing ones looking to make a change must seek

approval by the city.

The first step to obtain that permission is completed through the

Burbank Planning Division of the Community Development Department.

“We are the folks who are ultimately responsible for assuring that

the appropriate properties are used and it won’t impact the

surrounding neighbors,” said Jeremy Ochsenbein, an associate planner

for the city.

Many factors play into how the Planning Division handles a new

business. If the business is permitted by right -- that is, it is

seeking a property zoned according to its industry -- then the

Planning Division approves it. But if the business requires a

conditional-use permit -- an allowance for the use of land that

requires special consideration such as unusual traffic or noise and

effects on property values or safety -- further action must be taken.

An application must be filled out and a nonrefundable fee of $990

must be paid. Then, the Planning Board composed of five members

appointed by the City Council will grant a public hearing. The

prospective business owner and community members are allowed to voice

their opinions on whether the board should approve it.

It is then determined whether the business is permitted to operate

at the desired location.

“It keeps the zoning issues straightened out and keeps someone

moving next door to your home and setting up an auto body shop,” said

Al Van Wagenen, a code compliance inspector for the License and Code

Compliance Division.

But the Planning Division is willing to be as accommodating as

possible, said Peter Bentley, owner of The Winemaking Store.

“The people there have guided us from step to step through the

process,” he said. “They were there to help us bring our new business

through.”

The next step for the business is dealing with the License and

Code Services Division of the Community Development Department.

Division Supervisor Terre Hirsch said there are two reasons for it:

to regulate certain business activities and to generate revenues.

Every business must have a business permit, which is thought of as

an application fee and costs either $15 or $25, depending on the

business. Next, the business tax is a flat-rate tax costing $70.05

plus from $4.20 to $8.50 per employee. Finally, the business license

is used as a regulatory device and costs vary depending on the

business.

“Historically, Burbank has worked very closely with businesses,”

Hirsch said. “Any business that comes to town we have our arms open

to and the cost here is reasonable.”

Case in point: Los Angeles has a gross receipts tax and if Disney

was located there, it would pay several hundred thousand dollars, he

said. In Burbank, Disney pays an estimated $12,000. Glendale has no

business tax.

Altogether, Burbank’s total annual revenue from its approximately

15,000 businesses is $1.4 million.

But it is that stringent approach the city takes that ultimately

makes it desirable.

“Burbank is much more strict than other cities, but it is because

[city officials] take pride in their city,” Gerhardt said. “We feel

like we are well taken care of.”