Jackson Bell
The city of Burbank and the Burbank-Glendale- Pasadena Airport
Authority are in the early stages of an agreement that would ease the
long-standing legal tensions between the two organizations, officials
announced at Tuesday's City Council meeting.
The proposed 10-term agreement, expected to be finalized as soon
as fall, would protect the Airport Authority from the possibility of
the city changing zoning codes at the Bob Hope Airport when a
two-year moratorium of development on the land expires in August. The
agreement would protect the airport for seven years.
The Airport Authority, in return, will cease any potential
construction of a new terminal or other major development for the
next 10 years. The organization would also contribute $300,000 toward
mitigating airport traffic along Hollywood Way.
The moratorium, an interim development control ordinance, has held
the Airport Authority back when making changes to the property, said
Peter Kirsch, an attorney representing the city.
"Think of this as a cease-fire in the battle between the city and
the authority," Kirsch said. "This will make sure the airport won't
build any projects that the city is concerned about, like a new
terminal or airport gate ... and it makes sure the city and airport
are not fighting over smaller projects."
Other terms of the proposal include allowing the Airport Authority
to keep the former Lockheed B6 site for the next 10 years; the city
not raising the tax on airport parking higher than 12%; and the two organizations working to obtain as much nighttime noise relief as
federal law allows.
The agreement, however, is contingent on the Authority purchasing
the Star Park property, Kirsch said, adding that the Authority is
expected to reveal more about its plans during a special meeting at
9 a.m. today at Bob Hope Airport, 2627 Hollywood Way. By law, the
Authority must seek council approval to use the property, which would
serve as parking and space for rental cars.
City Council will have more say, and more public meetings and
hearings will be held regarding airport activity, officials said.
"This [agreement] will provide certainty that the community has
not really had before on what will happen in the next seven years,"
Airport Authority Commissioner Bill Wiggins said.
