The Burbank city staff has boldly shown their true colors [in
regard to] the Airport Authority. Claims of city-imposed
environmental protection from increased noise and traffic are a total
fabrication.
The Proposed Terms -- Development Agreement for the Bob Hope
Airport is riddled with falsehoods and glossy objectives that have no
basis for reality.
Let's start with the stated purpose -- "...to provide greater
certainty to the City and the Authority on issues of Airport Zoning
and development." Before the Interim Development Control Ordinance
(IDCO) was adopted by the city, staff said there was absolutely no
regulation it could use to place limits on airport expansion because
no conditions were attached to the present airport zone. Now the city
is committing to not impose any new regulation for seven more years.
The city loftily professes, "...this will allow the Authority to meet
its needs consistent with that zoning." In other words, the city
accepts no responsibility to stand in the way of anything the airport
proposes for the zone.
Under the title "Associated Projects," it says, "The Authority
will concurrently seek the City Council approval to purchase the
current site of Star Park and allow the Authority to use that
property for vehicle parking and rental car facilities." Objecting to
city and federal government interference with private enterprise is a
valid argument against such a deal on its own merit. Now we learn
that Star Park is delighted with the arrangement because they will
sell the property to the Authority for $40 million to be paid by
government guaranteed bonds. The interest on those bonds will run the
total cost up to $60 million.
First, the city conspires with the property owner to put in a
parking lot in competition against the airport, then the city
conspires with both parties to get the property into the airport's
hands. It will be public money paying for this cabal. The blatant
arrogance of this insider deal is unrivaled.
In the section called "Zoning Changes," the city proposes changes
that are already in force. Adopting formal changes to city ordinances
to incorporate federal height standards is only a paper adjustment.
Practical application of honoring the federal rules has been in place
for years. Changing the building code to require noise reduction on
new residences in the noise-impacted area is just another paper
change.
Changing the M-2 industrial zone to restrict new parking lots
serving uses that are located in a different zone serves only one
