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CITY OF GLENDALE, CALIFORNIA
REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
AGENDA ITEM
Report: Vacation of the First Alley Easterly of Brand Boulevard, Northerly of Fairview Avenue (Alley 130) Vacation Case No. 188V
1. Resolution Ordering the Vacation
2. Resolution Adopting Plan No. 12-242
COUNCIL ACTION
Item Type: Public Hearing
Approved for April 1, 2025 calendar
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Vacation of a 15 foot wide alley, Alley 130, is proposed to be incorporated into the development of a density bonus application, approved by the Director of Community Development on August 20, 2024, and by the Design Review Board on March 13, 2025, to construct a new 5-story, 40,489 square-foot multifamily residential project with 36 residential units, featuring three affordable units restricted to very low-income households and two affordable units restricted to moderate income households on a lot located at 117 East Fairview Avenue.
RECOMMENDATION
Adopt the following resolutions involving Vacation Case No. 188V, the Vacation of the First Alley of Brand Boulevard, Northerly of Fairview Avenue (Alley 130) to facilitate the construction of a new 5-story, 40,489 square-foot multi-family residential project with 36 residential units.
1. Adopt a resolution ordering the vacation of said public alley; and
2. Adopt Plan No. 12-242 (Alley Vacation Map) showing the location of the said alley.
ANALYSIS
Alley 130 is 15-feet wide with a single entry/exit onto East Fairview Avenue. The proposed vacation of this alley will split and incorporate 7.5-feet between two properties: 117-121 East Fairview Avenue and 1000 North Brand Boulevard. This request is part of a recently approved density bonus application dated August 20, 2024, relating to construction of a new 5-story, 36 unit, 40,489 square-foot multi-family residential project at 117-121 East {{section.number}}b2
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Fairview Avenue. With the vacation, 7.5-feet will be added to the density bonus project, bringing its total area to approximately 18,260 square feet (0.42 acres). The remaining
7.5-feet will be added to the commercial property at 1000 North Brand Boulevard, increasing its area to about 26,474 square feet (0.61 acres). The alley is currently improved with asphalt concrete pavement and has above-ground electrical and telecommunication facilities from AT&T. The applicant is coordinating with Glendale Water & Power and AT&T to establish easements for their infrastructure.
The vacation of the alley would be consistent with the applicable goals and objectives of the elements of City of Glendale Comprehensive General Plan.
The General Plan Land Use Element designations for the adopting sites are Residential – High Density and Commercial – Community Services. The Residential – High Density designation allows for relatively large multiple-family dwelling complexes at a density of 35 to 60 dwelling units per acre. The Commercial – Community Services designation offers a full range of functional services and facilities, including offices (medical, real estate, etc.), personal services, shopping, and restricted industries. The alley vacation will enable the construction of a 36-unit density bonus project featuring three affordable units restricted to very low-income households and two affordable units restricted to moderate-income households at 117-121 East Fairview, as well as a modest additional lot area for the C3-zoned property located at 1000 North Brand Boulevard.
Surrounding the project site are commercial businesses (bank, retail, restaurants, etc.) to the south and west, a place of worship (St. Mark’s Episcopal Church) to the north, and multi-family residences to the east. The project is consistent with both designations in the General Plan Land Use Element, as it will accommodate high-density residential development and provide added lot area to a commercial site currently occupied by a bank.
Following the vacation of Alley 130, the R-1250 and C3 zones will no longer be buffered by the alley and will directly abut one another. To comply with Glendale Municipal Code (GMC) sections 30.31.030.B.1 and 30.31.030.B.2, trees shall be planted along the abutting property line (one tree per 20 linear feet) to provide an effective screen, and a minimum 5.5-foot-high decorative masonry wall shall be constructed along the property line abutting any residential zone boundary.
The General Plan Housing Element Strategy 3 aims to encourage development of housing for senior and affordable family housing through density bonuses and continues to implement the Inclusionary Zoning Ordinance (IZO). The density bonus project will provide 3 affordable units to low-income households [15% of 19 base density units] and will satisfy its IZO requirement and set aside 2 moderate-income units (10% of the 19 base density units) for an additional density bonus.
The Land Use Element Economic Goal 2 provides for opportunities for the expansion of revenue-producing commercial establishments within the parameters of other community goals. A portion of the vacated alley will the incorporated into the commercially zoned {{section.number}}b3
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lot. The project is consistent with this Land Use Element goal because it will increase the area of the commercial site and provides opportunities for expansion of the site and increases the assessed value.
The project will implement the goals of the City’s Recreation Element. An in-lieu fee for the acquisition and management of recreational land consistent with the Recreation Element is collected with the development review process. This project will pay development impact fees, which will implement the Recreation Element goal to acquire and manage recreational land.
The project will implement the policies of the Community Facilities Element. A policy of this element is to preserve the high standards of library facilities in their educational and recreational roles. The project is required to pay development impact fees which will enable the City to proceed with the Library Arts and Culture, and Community Services and Parks Departments Capital Improvement Plan programs, including developing new, or rehabilitating existing, parks and recreation facilities and libraries.
The Circulation Element Objective 2.1 encourages land use which can be supported within the capacity constraints of existing and realistic future infrastructure. The purpose of the alley vacation is to allow for the construction of a density bonus project with 36 residential units, featuring three affordable units restricted to very low-income households and two affordable units restricted to moderate income household. The project site is currently served by East Fairview Avenue, which is identified as a local street by the Circulation Element. Local streets provide a variety of functions and accommodations for vehicular, bicycle and pedestrian modes of travel. In most instances, local streets serve residential needs of the immediate community and carry low volumes to and from collector and arterials, such as Brand Boulevard. Given that the project is consistent with the Land Use Element, this complements the mix of existing commercial and residential uses surrounding the subject site and is currently supported by streets designed to handle the vehicular capacity of residential land uses; hence, the project is consistent with the Circulation Element.
Planning Commission Finding
The Planning Commission’s role is to make findings as to whether the proposed alley vacation will be consistent with the goals and objectives of the City of Glendale Comprehensive General Plan, pursuant to Chapters 2.68 and 12.24 of the City of Glendale Municipal Code, and State Government Code Section 65402.
On October 16, 2024, the Planning Commission passed a motion finding and recommending to the City Council that the requested conditional vacation of the First Alley Easterly of Brand Boulevard, Northerly of East Fairview Avenue (Alley 130) is consistent with the goals and objectives of the Comprehensive General Plan of the City of Glendale.
The Planning Commission’s motion is attached hereto as Exhibit 2.
Conditions of Proposed Vacation
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All City departments, and various agencies and public utility companies were notified of the proposed vacation. Easements and conditions included in the resolutions are as follows:
1. Fire Department has concerns on the accessibility of the properties at 117 E Fairview Avenue in case on an emergency and proper egress of the properties if the alley is vacated. As a condition of the vacation, recordation of the vacation resolution (and officially closing the alley) will not occur until after the existing building(s) are demolished to the satisfaction of the Building & Safety Division.
2. An easement shall be required by Glendale Water and Power Department for its existing utility in the subject alley.
3. An easement shall be required by AT&T for its existing utility in the subject alley.
STAKEHOLDERS/OUTREACH
Staff has worked with the property owner to facilitate the vacation of the public alley easement.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with this report. Upon the completion of the alley vacation, the property would revert back to the underlying property owners and the City would receive a requisite share of property tax income. The vacated portion of the alley would be removed from the City’s street and alley maintenance inventory and, as such, the City would gain a small savings in the City’s maintenance budget.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW (CEQA/NEPA)
The project has undergone environmental review required by the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) and has been determined to be exempt from further CEQA review under a Class 32 “In-fill Development Project” exemption pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines Section 15332 because, after review and consideration of all required technical reports and/or studies, staff determined the project meets all the conditions for an infill development project, as follows:
a) The project is consistent with the applicable general plan designation and all applicable general plan policies as well as with applicable zoning designation and regulations;
b) The proposed development occurs within City Limits on a project site of no more than five acres substantially surrounded by urban areas;
c) The project site has no value as a habitat for endangered, rare or threatened species; d) Approval of the project would not result in any significant effects relating to traffic, noise, air quality, or water quality; and
e) The site can be adequately served by all required utilities and public services. {{section.number}}b5
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CAMPAIGN DISCLOSURE
This item is exempt from campaign disclosure requirements.
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Alternative 1: Do not to approve the resolution as recommended herein. This would prevent the development of the 5-story multi-family development as envisioned by the applicant.
Alternative 2: The City Council may consider any other alternative not proposed by staff.
ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION
Submitted by:
Daniel Hernandez, Director of Public Works
Prepared by:
Ruel Villaluna, P.E., Senior Civil Engineer
Approved by:
Roubik R. Golanian, P.E., City Manager
EXHIBITS/ATTACHMENTS
Exhibit 1: Plan No. 12-242 and Location Map (2 pages)
Exhibit 2: Planning Commission Motion Dated October 16, 2024.