The bigger they come,
the harder they fall
Years ago, I remember my driving instructor telling me that I
could get a ticket for doing anything that made it necessary for any
other driver to modify what they were doing.
By the same token, those people building so-called "mansions"
among the comfortable bungalows on the hillside in Burbank are,
without doubt, forcing others to modify their lifestyle. It follows
that the builders of the "mansions" are, for the most part, doing
harm to the community, and any further harm should be stopped.
Anyone who believes that these buildings will bring greater
revenue to the city is short-sighted. In other communities, this is
what has happened:
* the residents of the bungalows are happy and content and make
their property as attractive as they can afford;
* someone builds a "mansion";
* the residents of the adjoining bungalows become depressed living
in the shadow of their affluent neighbor and begin to let their
properties "run down";
* these bungalows are sold for a pittance and continue to erode;
* the residents of the "mansion" discover that they are living in
a slum and move out, renting the house to as many poor people who can
fit into the building;
* the whole area becomes a haven for crime and has to be torn
down;
* a developer builds a series of pleasant bungalows, which are
sold to families who are happy and content and make each property as
attractive as they can afford.
Everything in nature is on a cycle -- the river runs straight as
an arrow through the wide valley, it meanders, ox bow lakes are
formed and the river is straight again.
In the scenario given above, you see how unwise building has a
long-term detrimental effect on the community. This effect will in
time correct itself, but the community has to live through a very bad
period first. While an errant driver momentarily affects the traffic,
a delinquent City Council can cause problems, which last a decade or
two into the future.
Let's keep our pleasant bungalows!
EVA AND DEREK SHELTON
Burbank
Development standards should be implemented
Dear City Council members:
Just a brief note regarding your airport proposal announced last
week. It appears that no matter what your "good" intentions may be,
if you allow the airport to acquire additional land at this time and
"wait" seven to 10 years to build a new terminal, I believe you will
have lost all opportunity to control "land use" under the Public
Utility Code section 21661.6 that was so hard fought by the citizens
