CITY HALL
The City Council introduced an ordinance Tuesday that would legalize outdoor grilling at commercial establishments — like restaurants and banquet halls — but under certain conditions.
Current city codes mandate that all commercial food be prepared indoors, though some businesses operate against code now.
The ordinance OKs grills 10 square feet or less and proposes that grills larger than 10 square feet be limited to operating between 10 a.m. and 9 p.m.
Those hours could be extended to 11 p.m. on the weekends if the grill is more than 200 feet away from a residential zone, City Principal Planner Tim Foy said.
If it less than 200 feet from a residential zone, extended hours could be granted through a conditional-use permit, he said.
The ordinance also proposes that having grilling space larger than 10 square feet — calculated cumulatively if there are multiple grills — would require a five-foot screen wall to be erected around the grilling area.
It would also require some sort of storm-water diversion system approved by the Glendale Fire Department chief and the city public-works director, and would require a conditional-use permit for operation if located less than 200 feet from a residential zone, Foy said.
The ordinance still needs to return to the council for a vote.
The joint agency unanimously approved stage-one design plans for the proposed 24-unit project at 6200 San Fernando Road, which would serve very low-income developmentally disabled adults.
The proposed project has riled community members, who argued that the project will cost too much money and is in a bad location.
But agency members had mostly good things to say about it on Tuesday.
The project — being developed in partnership with United Cerebral Palsy of Los Angeles and Ventura counties — will consist of three residential buildings and one building that will house an activity room for tenants.
Agency members said the project would be a good addition to the San Fernando Road area.
