Burbank City Council Wrap-up

PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT

Despite concerns about the funding process, the council approved appropriating $225,000 in Redevelopment Agency money to buy new play equipment and a shade structure at Robert Gross Park. The city will receive a 10% discount from Landscape Structures and USA Shade Structures.

WHAT IT MEANS

The play equipment will be completed by June for the start of the city’s summer parks program.

VICTORY BOULEVARD BIKE LANE

The council unanimously gave license to approve improved safety signage for the bike path that will run on Victory Boulevard between Clybourn Avenue and the Burbank Boulevard Bridge. It will also extend along Front Street between the Burbank Boulevard Bridge and the Metrolink Station.

WHAT IT MEANS

Though it will not divert traffic from the Chandler Bikeway, the new bike path will provide another area for bikers to commute to work along the freeway with safer signage.

DEVELOPMENT DEADLINES

The council voted to allow development review and plan check deadlines on a number of building projects to expire, despite the economic downturn and poor credit market. Some developers who have building permits had hoped the city would give them extensions on when they could break ground on their projects, which include housing, office space and retail.

A motion did carry for a delay of in-lieu fees payment for multifamily housing. Under city code, developers must pay a fee if they create residential properties without affordable units; with the council’s vote Tuesday, developers can wait until the actual groundbreaking to pay the fees.

WHAT IT MEANS

Once permits and development deadlines expire, the developers must go through the entire application process again, including fees that could reach $300,000. The council will take a closer look at the in-lieu fees issue Tuesday.