Alex Coolman
NORTHWEST GLENDALE -- The Hilton Glendale will get permission to
bypass requirements for 43 parking spaces if the Redevelopment Agency
follows city staff recommendations at its Tuesday meeting.
The bypass, or variance, which staff has recommended granting, would
give the West Glenoaks Boulevard hotel some slack in the conversion of a
night club into a corporate conference space.
Under the hotel's proposal, the 4,394-square-foot R.J. Grin's bar and
lounge would be made over into conference space occupying 3,019 square
feet, not including a hallway.
City codes require that the converted use be provided with parking at
the rate of one space for every 35 square feet of floor space -- a total
of 87 spaces, or 43 more than are available for use by bar customers.
The Hilton has argued it should be given some breathing room from the
rules because many of those using the conference space would also be
hotel guests.
Staff agrees. "We think the conditions are such that the parking
exception is warranted and really won't have an impact on the area,"
explained Senior Project Manager Alex Hamilton.
In fact, Hamilton said, staff expects the overall use of the facility
will be "not as intense" when it is a conference room than it was while
it was a bar.
Use of the R.J. Grin's facility varies widely. On a recent afternoon,
the large restaurant was virtually empty.
The Hilton's conference facilities, on the other hand, tend to be
bustling. Among the clients using the rooms is the city of Glendale,
which has held meetings on tri-city power negotiations at the hotel. The
Chamber of Commerce-sponsored "State of the City" address, held in May,
also took place in a Hilton conference room.
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
will meet at 2:30 p.m., and the Redevelopment Agency, at which the Hilton
variance will be discussed, will meet at 3:30 p.m. The meetings will be
televised live on Charter Communications Channel 6.
The council will consider:
* Policies concerning council members hosting city television shows.
* A revised ordinance addressing nonconforming structures and uses.
