Glendale City Council
March 18, 2025

4444 Lowell Avenue
Appeal of Use Variance Approval Case No. PVAR
001880-2023
City Council | March 18, 2025
Project Proposal
• Continued operation of Chamlian.
• No changes in operation/enrollment.
• Private schools not permitted in R1 zone.
• Located east side of Lowell between Foothill
and Abella.
• 4.59 acres; 330 ft. frontage on Lowell.
• Campus includes administration and multi-
purpose buildings, gym, dining hall,
classrooms and surface parking.
2 Location Map
San Augustine
Wendover
3 Site Plan/Overhead View
4 Street View
San Augustine Drive
Wendover Road
5 Summary of Planning
Commission Meeting
• Four of five Board members attended
meeting.
• Significant public comment.
• Commission concluded variance
findings met.
6 Summary of Planning
Commission Meeting (cont.)
Variance findings:
• Practical difficulty/unnecessary hardship.
• Exceptional circumstances.
• Detrimental/injurious to public
welfare/property/improvements.
• Not contrary to ordinance objectives.
7 Summary of Planning
Commission Meeting (cont.)
Amended/new conditions of
approval:
• Tiered carpool system. (condition #6)
• Shuttle service or bus. (added)
• Indefinite approval. (lack of condition)
• Potential mid-block crossing.
(condition #24)
8 Appellant’s Basis of Appeal
• Violation of specific provision of law.
– Third variance finding cannot be made; Chamlian
injurious to surrounding area.
• Planning Commission refused to
hear/consider facts before decision.
• New evidence should change decision.
• Additional facts provided related to
appeal.
9 Staff Response
• Chamlian operating for 40 years.
• No changes to enrollment/operation.
• School guards/security personnel on
staff.
• Flooding issue has been resolved.
10 Staff Response (cont.)
• Ownership of property across Lowell
not pertinent to use variance.
• Conditional use permit findings not
pertinent to use variance.
• Public and private schools have
similar impacts.
• Some violations of 2014 variance
conditions.
11 Staff Response (cont.)
• No evidence of excessive noise,
inconsistent with school use.
• School “point person” (new condition).
• Cumulative effects of current/future
conditions not significant.
12 Staff Recommendation
City Council sustain Planning
Commission’s approval of the use
variance, as conditioned.
13