Alex Coolman
GLENDALE -- A proposal to place a moratorium on new apartment
development is the inspiration behind an informational meeting that will
take place Tuesday at City Hall.
The meeting evolved from an April 17 request by Councilman Bob
Yousefian that the council consider an apartment moratorium. A draft
version of the description of the upcoming meeting said it would involve
"discussion of implications of [a] moratorium," but that language was
toned down for the final description, which simply calls the meeting a
"multiple family dwelling development discussion."
"It's really going to start with the basics of our housing element and
our plan for housing in this community and talk a little bit about what
that means," said Madalyn Blake, the city's director of community
development and housing. "There are just a lot of multifamily housing
issues."
The somewhat daunting agenda for the meeting includes sections on the
history of housing, the nature of Glendale's housing programs, legal
aspects of the issue and ongoing housing developments.
Nowhere, at least on the final version of the agenda, is a moratorium
mentioned. Yousefian, asked Friday about the meeting, initially said he
wasn't even sure of its purpose.
But staff, though they don't take a policy position with regard to a
possible moratorium, are clearly making an effort to make sure the
council is informed about the work that has gone into its housing policy.
"We believe it's a very complex subject that requires an understanding
of the interrelationships," said Assistant Planning Director Jim Glaser.
IN OTHER ACTION
The Glendale City Council will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the council
chambers of City Hall, 613 E. Broadway. The Glendale Housing Authority,
where the discussion of apartments will take place, will meet at 2:30
p.m., and the Redevelopment Agency will meet at 3:30 p.m. The meetings
will be televised live on Charter Communications Channel 6. In other
action, the council will consider:
* A nondiscrimination policy for distribution of federal funds.
* Possible modifications to fence and wall zoning.
