Part 2 of 2: City Planning Backslides Creating Loopholes For Mansionization

Preserve Burbank Appeals Hillside Project at City Council THIS TUESDAY NIGHT (Feb. 2nd) AT 6:00 PM. We hope you can attend or send City Council an Email.
Does this look like an "Addition" to you? (see photo above) Last September the Planning Board rubber stamped this project at 2619 Joaquin Drive even after a next door neighbor filed an appeal siting the violation of his family's privacy and loss of views that this home will create. Preserve Burbank has appealed this project on additional grounds that it is inconsistent with the prevailing character of the neighborhood, exceeds the acceptable size criteria (FAR) and has been given unacceptable variances in standard setback requirements. It is Preserve Burbank's position that this project should have never gotten past the planning desk.

A little history...The Hillside Development Agreement has been in city codes for over 30 years largely going unacknowledged by the city until the past few years and now waking to challenge the inappropriate mansionization that has invaded Burbank. And the Hillside Development Agreement has served as the model for the terms of the current Interim Development Construction Ordinance (IDCO) while the city's hired architectural firm, Dyett & Bhatia, identifies design context and compatibility throughout Burbank's neighborhoods.

GET READY. WE'RE GOING TO NEED YOUR HELP.

And now Burbank's Planning Department and Planning Board have laid the proverbial egg. Although the modest home in the foreground on Joaquin Drive will suffer the immediate consequences from the potential construction of a mansion on the flag lot immediately downhill, not to mention the animosity between two neighbors brought on by Planning's inconsistent evaluation of the project, the greater issue is the backsliding precedent created, while at the same time, the city is spending $100,000 (which Preserve Burbank was instrumental in pushing the City to allocate) to move forward to identify and establish meaningful design compatibility in our residential neighborhoods.

GET READY. WE'RE GOING TO NEED YOUR HELP.

Provided below are photos of:

•Existing 1971 Ranch Home on Joaquin Drive
•37.4% reduced images submitted by the property owner to support the concept of the Proposed "Addition", supported by Planning Staff & approved by Planning Board
•Actual Scale Rendering of "New Construction"

Also provided are photos of the prevailing neighborhood character.

Existing 1971 Ranch at 2619

Prevailing Size

Roof Lines Enhance Topography and Slope

37.4% Reduced Image = "Addition"

Joaquin Drive Prevailing Character

Prevailing Design Character

Prevailing Scale

Actual Scale = New Home

Setbacks Minimize Massing

Low Sweeping Roof Lines Preserve Views and Air

THE TIME IS NOW. WE NEED YOUR HELP.

Please join us Tuesday night (Feb. 2nd) at 6:00 pm at City Hall to hear our 15 minute appeal to City Council to send this project back to the drawing board. You may speak during the public comment segment after the appeal is presented.

Here is a sample of what you can say or include in an email to City Council:

As a resident of Burbank , I feel the proposed project at 2619 Joaquin Drive violates 5 of the 8 requirements of the Hillside Development Ordinance. The home as proposed is not consistent with the prevailing neighborhood character, it is not consistent in scale or proportion to the surrounding neighborhood, it is being allowed setbacks that are not consistent with Burbank building standards and it encroaches upon the privacy and scenic views of surrounding homes. Please vote to deny this project until it complies with the Hillside Development Ordinance that has been in existence for over 35 years.

IF YOU CANNOT ATTEND THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING, PLEASE SEND AN EMAIL TO CITY COUNCIL BEFORE NOON ON TUESDAY TO SHARE YOUR DISAPPROVAL OF THIS PROJECT.
Email address: CityCouncil@burbankca.gov

As always, thanks for being a part of Preserve Burbank. We will keep you posted on the results of our appeal.