MOTION
Moved by Council Member _____________________________, seconded by Council Member _________________________, that upon review and consideration of all documents, materials, exhibits and testimony relative to the appeal of the Design Review Board approval with conditions of Design Review Case No. PDR-004219-2024, located at 906 Whitehaven Terrace (the “Design Review Case”), and after having conducted a public hearing on the appeal on September 9, 2025, pursuant to the Glendale Municipal Code, 1995 (“GMC”), and receiving testimony, the City Council of the City of Glendale, California, based upon all of the evidence in the record, hereby SUSTAINS the Design Review Board’s decision to APPROVE WITH CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL the Design Review Case based on the findings and conclusions set forth in the September 9, 2025, report to Council from the Director of Community Development, including any attachments thereto. Further, the Council hereby adopts, and incorporates herein by this reference, the analysis, findings, conclusions and conditions of the Design Review Board in its Record of Decision dated February 13, 2025 (Exhibit 4 to the Report).
FINDINGS
In approving the Design Review Case, the Council hereby makes the following findings:
Site Planning: The proposed site planning is appropriate, as modified by any conditions, to the site and its surroundings for the following reasons:
The condition to eliminate the cantilevered design and push the second-story volume towards the street will take the site’s topography into consideration by restricting the addition to follow the topography.
2 Mechanical equipment and trash enclosure areas are screened behind the fence and gate on the eastern side yard of the residence.
The new retaining walls feature landscaping to minimize the visual impact of the retaining walls.
The project plan extends the existing deck towards the rear, bringing it more in line with the neighboring deck.
The existing driveway is replaced with a new decorative permeable paving in the same footprint and slope.
Mass and Scale: The proposed mass and scale are appropriate, as modified by any conditions, to the site and its surroundings for the following reasons:
The neighborhood consists of both one- and two-story residences. The immediate west adjacent neighbor’s two-story residence is compatible with the proposed two-story addition.
The proposed design change, from the existing Ranch style to contemporary farmhouse design, features variations of roof forms and breaks in the facade to minimize the visual impact from the street.
The condition to reduce the massing and scale of the second-story volume, eliminate the second-story balcony, and cantilever the design creates a proportional massing that visually fits into the surrounding context. The condition to redesign the roof plan to reduce the variations creates a proportional roof form for the structure.
Building Design and Detailing: The proposed building design and detailing are appropriate, as modified by any conditions, to the site and its surroundings for the following reasons:
The project incorporates design details that are complementary to the contemporary farmhouse style of the single-family dwelling, such as limestone veneer, board-and-batten siding, and smooth stucco finish throughout the house. The project proposes to utilize high-quality materials that reinforces the design of the home such as the aluminum-clad wood windows, multi-width slate tile roof, stainless steel chimney cap, wooden door, ornamental wooden moldings, trims, corbels, and fascia, and lantern sconces.
The new driveway features cobblestone paving and concrete paving with turf and limestone paving for the walkway to enhance the curb appeal of the property. 3 The condition to eliminate the second-story balcony and planting of live plant materials along the rear and side property helps to mitigate privacy impacts to the adjacent properties.
The condition to redesign the entry eliminates the monumental entry design.
CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL
1. Restudy the design to reduce the massing and scale of the second-story volume, ensuring it followings the topography and eliminates the cantilevered portion of the addition, while extending the volume towards the street front.
2. Remove the second-story balcony.
3. Plant live vegetation of appropriate height along the rear and side of the property for privacy screening.
4. Modify the design of the second-story volume to create better proportions and reduce the prominence of the entryway.
5. Simplify the roof design by reducing the variation of roof forms to achieve a more proportional look in harmony with the overall home.
6. Harry Akopian, Ecumena Design Studio, and Michael Mazmanian (Applicant/Owner), and their respective successors; owners by deed, deed-in-lieu of foreclosure, foreclosure or otherwise; assigns; and/or any real party in interest with an interest in the property that is the subject of this approval, and/or with an interest in the Project site, that is named as a party in any suit (hereinafter collectively the “Developer”), agree to and shall defend, indemnify, and hold harmless the City of Glendale (the “City”), and each of its agents, officers, council members, commissioners, attorneys, employees and representatives (the “Indemnitees”) from any claim, action or proceeding brought against the City and/or the Indemnities to attack, set aside, void or annul any City land use or California Environmental Quality Act approval for the Project. The Developer agrees to use legal counsel reasonably acceptable to the City. The foregoing shall include, without limitation, payment of all damages awarded against the City and/or the Indemnitees, if any, costs of suit, attorney’s fees, and other costs and expenses incurred in connection with such action or proceeding. In the event that a claim, action or proceeding referenced herein is brought, the City shall promptly notify the Developer of the existence of the claim, action or proceeding and will cooperate fully in the defense of such claim, action or proceeding. As used herein, “land use approval” shall refer to decisions of the City approving requests of applicants for planning permits, including, but not limited to, general plan amendments, annexations, zone changes, zoning ordinance text amendments, tentative maps, vesting tentative maps, tentative parcel maps, reversions to acreage, final maps, final modifications or amendments, time extensions, parcel map waivers, lot line adjustments, boundary line adjustments, certificates of compliance, conditional certificates of compliance, design review approvals, development agreements, conditional use permits, conditional use permit modifications, conditional use permit extensions, variances, variance modifications, precise plan of design, specific plans, density bonus review/housing plan applications, sign permits, parking reduction permits, site 4 plans, temporary use permits, any administrative or discretionary permit pertaining to a land use approval, and/or any accompanying California Environmental Quality Act determination(s) pertaining to the type of approval referred to in this section, and any other similar approval.
Vote as follows:
Ayes:
Noes:
Absent:
Abstain: