Glendale · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Glendale public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Subdivision of 1420 Valley View Road after unpermitted demolition of historic home
A vacant lot where a 1908 Craftsman house was illegally demolished in 2018 could be split into two lots for new homes. The environmental review says the historic loss is a significant impact that can't be fixed — the question is whether the city should approve the project anyway.
Burbank-Pasadena-Glendale Regional Housing Trust Update
The October 20 meeting included a presentation on regional housing trust activity affecting Glendale's affordable housing planning. Approving the October 20 minutes on November 3 will place that presentation into the official record.
CDBG Public Social Services and Capital Improvement RFP Packets
The committee evaluated numerous social service grant applications supporting seniors, youth, victims of domestic violence, and legal aid. Funding was distributed among multiple non-profits to sustain vital community programs.
Fiscal Year 2026-27 Capital Improvement Program
A new pre-construction readiness checklist and scoring rubric were introduced to ensure capital project applicants are shovel-ready before receiving funds.
Single-Family Home Rebuild at 1335 Norton Avenue
A developer plans to replace an older 1949 home on Arboles Drive with a large 5,406-square-foot one-story house, ADU, and pool. Neighbors raised concerns about construction disruptions on the narrow street and the impact on local wildlife and protected oak trees.
Wireless Telecommunications Facility Permit Renewal at 403 South Central Avenue
T-Mobile requested a 10-year renewal for its existing rooftop antenna facility on an eight-story commercial building. The commission approved the continuation since it fills a coverage gap and causes no new visual or noise impacts.
Setback Variance for Residential Block Wall
Homeowners are asking the city for permission to keep a block wall that was built too close to the sidewalk due to a contractor error. Moving it would ruin mature trees and landscaping, but neighbors and city staff expressed no major concerns.
Senior Housing Accessibility Standards
A resident advocated for specialized housing programs and a volunteer disability accessibility committee to help upgrade older and newer apartments for people with disabilities.
East-West Glendale Historic Context Statement and Survey Updates
The city is compiling a comprehensive survey of historic resources in east and west Glendale, but residents and preservationists argue that several notable properties and potential historic districts were omitted from the draft.
Affordable Housing Debt Refinancing and Ground Leases
The city pulled items regarding lease amendments and financing documents for two local affordable housing complexes, Metropolitan City Lights and Glendale City Lights.
FY 2026 Continuum of Care Grant Application & Homeless Assistance Funding
Glendale is applying for $4.36 million in federal HUD grants to fund permanent housing, rental assistance, and outreach programs for unhoused residents. Staff highlighted new flexibility for serving older adults and families fleeing domestic violence, alongside ongoing federal litigation affecting HUD policy priorities.
Historic Resource Designations and Mills Act Contracts
Two residential properties were nominated for the Glendale Register of Historic Resources and applied for tax-reducing Mills Act contracts. The commission evaluated their architectural significance and approved recommendations for city council adoption.
Affordable Housing and Rent Burdens at 900 E. Broadway
Tenants from 900 East Broadway voiced frustration over steep rent increases in affordable housing units, urging the council to intervene and stabilize their rents.
Commercial Car Wash Development at 722 N. Pacific Ave.
Residents and business owners clashed over plans to replace the iconic Acapulco restaurant with a modern self-service car wash. Neighbors raised serious safety and congestion concerns regarding traffic funneling onto Burchette Street, while supporters emphasized the community need for professional car care options.
2026 Homeless Point-in-Time Count Results
Glendale's latest homeless count found 220 unhoused individuals, marking a 12% increase driven largely by a rise in unsheltered residents. City officials discussed the new digital data-collection tools used and the challenges of regional inflows from surrounding areas.
Historic Designation and Mills Act for 1625 Campbell Street
Homeowners sought historic recognition for their 1935 American Colonial Revival home, known as the Lawson House, to secure property tax savings through a Mills Act contract.
Multi-Family Housing Development at 2760 Hermosa Avenue
A developer proposed a four-story, 12-unit Spanish Colonial style residential building with two affordable units to replace a single-family home. While supporters lauded the family-sized three-bedroom units and architectural design, opponents objected to the removal of mature oak trees and the four-story height.
Multi-Family Housing Development at 2817 Montrose Avenue
A developer plans to replace an old church with a four-story, 42-unit apartment building featuring five affordable units and 69 parking spaces. Neighbors raised concerns about increased traffic, parking shortages, and building height, while housing advocates praised the addition of much-needed units near transit.
Hillside Residential Development and Tree Preservation at 1300 Hillside Drive
Residents and board members intensely scrutinized the impact of foundation grading and construction on mature, protected coast live oak trees, particularly Tree No. 23, expressing skepticism that heavy construction can occur near root zones without killing the trees or destabilizing slopes.
Hamilton Court Transitional Housing Expansion
Glendale is putting $809,485 toward finishing the final phase of Hamilton Court, turning older apartments into 25 updated studio units for families escaping domestic violence. The project is managed by Door of Hope and backed by state housing funds.
Parkview Glendale HOME-ARP Senior Housing Preferences
The city is amending its federal HOME-ARP allocation plan to give senior Emergency Housing Voucher (EHV) holders priority for 11 affordable units at Parkview Glendale. While this helps a small group of seniors facing voucher expiration, council members and residents noted that it leaves out many others in equal need.
Commercial Mural Approval at 401 N. Central Ave.
The commission approved a new wrapping abstract mural for a grocery market on Central Avenue, adding vibrant public art to a commercial corridor.
State Legislative Positions on Commission Recommendations
The city council reviewed and took positions on state bills concerning school employee leave, foster youth disaster aid, and environmental sustainability as recommended by citizen commissions.
High-Density Apartment Development at Foothill and New York
Neighbors are deeply concerned that a new five-story, 87-unit apartment building will overwhelm local streets, worsen parking shortages, and create dangerous evacuation bottlenecks during wildfires.
Grayson Power Plant Battery and Engine Repowering
Glendale Water and Power is moving forward with the Grayson repowering project, successfully navigating complex nighttime transport logistics to deliver massive Wärtsilä generators to the site. The commercial operation date is targeted for mid-to-late July to help meet summer peak energy demands.
Hillside Single-Family Residence Development at 933 Hillcroft Road
Neighbors raised strong concerns about emergency vehicle access, narrow streets, construction disruption, and geological safety regarding a new two-story home and future ADU.
Twelve Oaks Residential Care Facility Expansion at 2820 Sycamore Avenue
A major proposal to demolish 12 existing buildings and construct a three-story, 106-bed residential congregate care facility was pulled from the agenda to give staff time to review extensive public comments.
Dream Preschool and Academy Entitlements and Variances
A proposal to operate a 100-child day care center inside an existing church facility has raised neighborhood concerns about traffic, street parking, and lot coverage. The applicant is seeking a conditional use permit and three variances to legalize shade structures, retaining walls, and signage.
State Legislative Priorities for Women and Families
The commission reviewed and took positions on various bills in the California Legislative Women's Caucus package covering parental leave, healthcare, and domestic violence protections.
Condominium Development Incentives
A developer wants to build a 5-story, 87-unit apartment building with 9 affordable units on Foothill Boulevard, utilizing state density bonus laws to bypass local height and parking rules. Dozens of local residents spoke out against the project, arguing it is far too large, will worsen already terrible traffic, and poses serious evacuation risks during wildfires.
Economic Development Award
Glendale just got a major award for its economic development! This means the city is doing a great job attracting businesses and boosting the local economy, which is awesome news for everyone living here.
SB9 Infill Development on Olmsted Drive and School Street
Two new single-family homes resulting from an approved SB9 lot split were reviewed, balancing neighborhood scale, setbacks, and privacy.
Affordable Housing Project Rent Structures and Discrepancies
Council members raised concerns about reports of steep rent increases and pricing discrepancies at affordable housing developments like City Lights and Pioneer, asking staff for a comprehensive report on AMI percentages and rent caps.
Housing Production and Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA)
The city reviewed its housing production numbers for 2025, noting that while ADUs are being built, private multi-family development remains sluggish due to high construction costs and interest rates.
Subdivision and New Single-Family Development at 4033 Liberty Avenue
A proposal to subdivide a 15,325-square-foot lot into two parcels, demolish the existing home, and build two new two-story single-family residences while protecting four oak trees.
Hillside Single-Family Home Remodel and Addition at 1402 Edinburgh Lane
A homeowner is planning a major modern remodel and a two-story addition on a steep hillside lot in the College Hills neighborhood. The board approved the plans while agreeing to let the owners keep their planned rear balcony.
Director of Community Development Recruitment
Following the recent resignation of the community development director, the city is initiating an open recruitment process using an executive search firm. The updated job description now formally includes oversight of homeless services.
Western Avenue Self-Storage Redevelopment
Public Storage is investing $55 million to replace an aging 1979 office building at 701 Western Avenue with a modern, 253,048-square-foot multi-building self-storage facility, bringing state-of-the-art storage and updated landscaping to the industrial corridor.
Menlo Drive Hillside Single-Family Residence
A property owner is proposing a large three-story, 5,694-square-foot single-family home on an 85,181-square-foot hillside lot at 3240 Menlo Drive. Neighbors raised heavy concerns about narrow street safety, construction truck traffic, and building mass, leading the board to place strict conditions on the design.
Multi-Generational Expansion at 2224 East Chevy Chase Drive
A local family sought to expand their longtime family home with a second story and an attached ADU to accommodate aging parents and growing children. The board enthusiastically supported the project while adding privacy conditions for neighbors.
Permit Services Center Hours Change
The city announced new operating hours for the Permit Services Center starting February 9, shifting to morning hours Monday through Thursday with select afternoon walk-in slots and Friday closures.
Parking Lot Safety and Adjacent Property Damage at Topline Spa
A neighboring property owner called in to report that cars frequently crash out of the parking lot and damage his wall and auxiliary dwelling unit, asking the city to require concrete wheel stops.
236 N. Central Avenue Mixed-Use Development Approval
Following a state housing violation notice, the council was forced to rescind its prior denial and approve a 682-unit mixed-use project and alley vacation to comply with state housing laws.
Hillside Single-Family Home Development on Swarthmore Drive
Neighbors and conservation groups raised serious concerns about three massive new homes proposed on a steep hillside on Swarthmore Drive. Residents worried about wildfire safety, evacuation bottlenecks on narrow dead-end streets, unstable soil, loss of natural wildlife corridors, and designs that look more like corporate office buildings than homes.
Community Development Department Engage Glendale Web Pages Update
Staff introduced updates to the Engage Glendale web platform, highlighting interactive mapping tools and upcoming pages for pending historic districts.
Business Development
Glendale is streamlining the process for new businesses to open up. This move aims to boost the local economy by bringing in more companies and potentially creating new jobs.