BURBANK, CA Planning Board
Sundays tracks every public Planning Board meeting in BURBANK, CA and summarizes what was decided — master-plan re-examinations, redevelopment areas, rezonings and land-use ordinances. Land-use items are kept off the weekly Sundays email (they're a specialist read), but every one is archived here and verified against the official meeting record. 65 items on file; most recent August 27, 2026.
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City Planner Comments — Upcoming Items Email Update
The city planner stated staff would email commissioners an update on upcoming items for the next two meetings, responding to a request for better advance notice and planning.
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Introduction of Additional Agenda Items — None
The Chair asked whether Planning Commission members wished to introduce new items for discussion or future agendas. No items were introduced.
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Public Comment on Downtown TOD Specific Plan (Project No. 818-00003736) — No Speakers
The Chair opened the public comment period for the Downtown TOD Specific Plan item and the clerk indicated there were no in-person speaker cards and no callers in the queue. The Chair then closed public comment.
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Administrative Draft Downtown Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Specific Plan — Staff Overview and Schedule
Planning staff presented an overview of the administrative draft Downtown TOD Specific Plan (Project No. 818-00003736), describing its purpose, chapters, major strategies (housing, civic center, town center, mobility, parking, utilities, zoning standards), environmental review process, and anticipated timeline through winter 2027 adoption hearings.
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Oral Communications (General Public Comment) — EV Charging Infrastructure and Inter-Commission Coordination
During opening oral communications, one public speaker (a Heritage Commission member speaking on behalf of that commission) introduced himself, invited the Planning Commission to attend Heritage Commission meetings, and raised concerns about EV charging infrastructure and accountability for public charging costs.
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Approval of Budget Amendment for Environmental Review of SB79 Transit-Oriented Development Stop Zoning
The Council considered and approved a budget amendment to appropriate funds for environmental review related to SB79 transit-oriented development stop zoning mapped by SCAG. One Council member abstained; the motion otherwise passed.
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Additional Agenda Item Consideration: Data Centers Report Request (Council Member Request)
Council considered adding a future agenda item requested by Council Member Rosati for a report on data centers, including zoning criteria and potential impacts. Council discussed scope and timing, with staff indicating a more robust report could take a couple months and offering an earlier informational memo to address immediate public concerns.
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Council and Staff Responses to General Public Comment (Selected Topics)
Council members and staff responded briefly to public comment, including support for nonprofits, interest in discussing data centers in a future agenda item, clarification about council service being part-time pay with full-time effort, and acknowledgment of plant-based treaty advocacy and AI-related questions.
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Council Q&A — Neighborhood-Serving Retail, Streetscape/Public Realm, and Walkability
Council discussion emphasized adding neighborhood-serving retail and improving walkability and streetscapes, particularly along corridors that function like commercial streets but are zoned industrial. Staff confirmed the plan’s intent to modernize zoning and improve public realm conditions.
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Draft Golden State Specific Plan Policy Document — Staff Presentation and Overview
Principal Planner Daniel Villa presented the draft Golden State Specific Plan for public review, summarizing the plan area, planning process, chapter organization, subdistrict framework, public realm and zoning standards, infrastructure coordination, and CEQA environmental review timeline.
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Additional agenda items: AB 736 monitoring; requests for future agenda items (data centers, pedestrian bridge memo, commercial vacancy rate)
The Council addressed additional agenda item procedures. One Council member asked staff to monitor AB 736 (transfer tax limitation) after it was shelved. Council members requested future agenda items on data centers, a memo on a pedestrian bridge proposal, and information on commercial vacancy rates.
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General public comment (Period 1): Board/commission appointments, utilities, housing, SB79/BRT, public safety, and other topics
During the first general public comment period (in-person and phone), speakers requested appointments/reappointments to multiple boards and commissions and raised concerns about a proposed AI-focused data center expansion, rent increases and rent control, SB79/BRT impacts, a historic property, senior program affordability, surveillance technology, and other issues.
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Additional agenda item introductions and information memo requests
Councilmember Anthony introduced additional requests, including support for AB 736 (transfer taxes), follow-up on plant-based treaty options for City-run events, a request to revisit a PLA item, and memos on new state law requirements related to short-term rental reporting and disclosure of AI use in public agency reports.
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Administrative Draft Downtown Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Specific Plan Overview and Schedule
Principal Planner Leonard Bechit presented an overview of the completed administrative draft Downtown TOD Specific Plan, including purpose, guiding principles, major strategies, zoning and development standards, infrastructure coordination, CEQA program EIR status, and the anticipated outreach and adoption timeline through late fall 2026.
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City Planner Comments: Specific Plans Update and Upcoming Commission Reorganization/Training
Staff provided updates on the city’s specific plans work (Media District, Golden State, Downtown), including ongoing technical and community engagement efforts and anticipated sequencing. Staff also noted upcoming Commission reorganization and Brown Act training.
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Commissioner Request to Agendize Chair/Vice Chair Reorganization Discussion
During additional agenda items, a commissioner requested that the Commission agendize a discussion to designate Vice Chair Wick as Chair at the next meeting. No action was taken at that time beyond noting the request for a future agenda.
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Closing Oral Communications (General Public Comment)
Later in the meeting, the Commission opened a second oral communications period for general city business, again offering in-person and phone-in options. No public comments were received, and the period was closed.
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Public Comment on Public Hearing Item (CUP for Car Wash at 1420 N. San Fernando Blvd.)
The Vice Chair opened the public comment period for the CUP public hearing item and provided instructions for in-person and phone comments. No members of the public provided testimony, and the public comment period was closed.
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Opening Oral Communications (General Public Comment)
At the start of the meeting, the Vice Chair announced the opening oral communications period for matters concerning city business, with instructions for in-person speaker cards and a phone-in option. No members of the public provided comments during this opening period.
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New Business: Urban Forest Master Plan Update (Davey Resource Group and City Staff)
City staff and Davey Resource Group presented an extensive update on the Urban Forest Master Plan, including inventory results (33,130 trees; 344 species; 71.7% stocking level; $186 million replacement value), canopy and land cover findings, quantified annual benefits ($1.16 million), policy/operations review themes, and upcoming community meetings and draft timeline through May 2026.
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Board and Staff Responses to Public Comment; Written Communications Noted
Board members and staff briefly responded to public comments, thanked speakers, and noted written communications received regarding the Urban Forest Master Plan. Board members also commented on earlier presentations and the pickleball fundraiser event.
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Department Announcements and Community Event Notices
Recreation Coordinator Edgar Manukian delivered a series of Parks and Recreation and citywide announcements, including centennial programming, community meetings for the Urban Forest Master Plan, animal shelter events, grants, and multiple upcoming recreation events with dates, locations, and registration links.
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Items for Future Agenda (Board Requests)
A board member requested future agenda items including the gate master plan, Prop 28 arts planning/vision, traffic around secondary schools, a joint meeting with City Council, and discussion of a budget committee.
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City planner comments: City Council expectations for boards/commissions/committees
Planning Manager Scott Planck reported that hard copies of City Council expectations for board, commission, and committee members were provided in the packet and distributed. He stated the expectations were adopted in May 2025, organized into three sections, and asked commissioners to review, sign, and return the document by the October 13, 2025 meeting.
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Introduction of additional agenda items
The Chair opened the agenda item for introduction of additional agenda items. No commissioners introduced new items, and no discussion or action was taken.
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Oral communications (general public comment)
The Commission opened the oral communications public comment period, providing instructions for in-person and phone comments (818-238-3335). No speaker cards were received and no callers were in the queue, and the Chair closed the public comment period.
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Reports from Commission / City Staff (no additional reports recorded)
The agenda moved to reports from the Commission and city staff. Aside from the City Attorney training already delivered, no additional commission reports were recorded before moving to minutes approval.
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City Attorney training: Brown Act, conflicts of interest, and Public Records Act
City Attorney Lisa Curryhara provided training on transparency laws for commissioners, covering the Brown Act (open meetings, agenda rules, serial meetings, social media, teleconferencing), conflicts of interest (Political Reform Act financial conflicts, Government Code 1090, common law bias), and the Public Records Act (emails/texts as records and response obligations).
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Election of Vice Chair (one-year term): Paulina Safarian
The Planning Commission elected a Vice Chair for a one-year term. Commissioner Paulina Safarian was nominated and seconded, and the Commission voted to elect her as Vice Chair.
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Election of Chair (one-year term): Samantha Wick
The Planning Commission held its annual election for Chair. Vice Chair Samantha Wick was nominated and seconded, and the Commission voted to elect her as Chair for a one-year term.
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City staff announcements
The Chair called for city staff announcements. No substantive announcements were recorded in the transcript before moving to the next agenda item.
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Opening instructions for general public comment (oral communications) and participation methods
At the start of the meeting, the Chair/Clerk announced procedures for the general public comment period, including in-person speaker cards and a phone-in option using 818-238-3335. No public comments were taken at this moment; the instructions were provided in advance of the later oral communications item.
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Closing Oral Communications (General Public Comment) — No Speakers
The Chair opened the closing oral communications period and again provided instructions for in-person and telephone public comment. No in-person speakers or callers provided comments, and the Chair closed the public comment period.
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Opening Oral Communications (General Public Comment) — Procedures Announced
At the start of the meeting, the Chair announced the general public comment (oral communications) procedures for in-person and telephone participation, including the call-in number. No individual public speakers or comments were recorded during this opening period in the transcript.
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City Planner Comments: Upcoming Agenda Items
Planning staff provided an update on upcoming agenda items. Staff stated there appeared to be nothing scheduled for November (to be confirmed by email) and that a December 8, 2025 item would be an appeal of the Director’s decision.
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Introduction of Additional Agenda Items
The Chair invited Planning Commission members to introduce new items for discussion or future agendas. No additional items were introduced.
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Closing Oral Communications (General Public Comment)
The Chair opened oral communications near the end of the meeting and provided instructions for in-person and telephone comments (818-238-3335). No in-person speakers or callers commented, and the Chair closed the public comment period.
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Reports: City Staff and Commission Reports
The Chair called for city staff reports and commission reports. No substantive reports were provided during this segment.
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Opening General Public Comment (Oral Communications)
The Chair opened the meeting’s general public comment period and provided instructions for in-person speaker cards and telephone participation (818-238-3335). No in-person speakers or callers provided comments, and the public comment period was closed.
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City planning staff comments — handling of late-submitted materials, public access to documents, and mailed notice verification
Planning staff explained the continuance was driven by late-submitted, voluminous materials and emphasized the City’s intent to post information promptly and ensure the public can review it before the continued hearing. Staff also offered to verify mailed notice lists for residents who believe they did not receive notice.
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Oral communications (closing) — concerns about not receiving mailed notice for the Lynen Avenue hearing
During the closing oral communications period, a resident stated they and nearby neighbors did not receive mailed notice of the Lynen Avenue project hearing and only learned about it from a neighbor. They requested access to the packet and emphasized neighborhood parking concerns.
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Continue public hearing for Project No. 25-00002550 to January 12, 2026
After public comment, staff requested a continuance due to voluminous materials received shortly before the meeting. The Commission discussed fairness and public ability to review new information, then voted to continue the hearing to a date certain: January 12, 2026.
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Public comment on Project No. 25-00002550 (257 West Lynen Avenue) — neighborhood impacts, parking, traffic, fire/emergency access, and opposition to 75 units and/or 11 units
Multiple residents and nearby stakeholders spoke in opposition to the proposed development, focusing on parking shortages, narrow dead-end street and alley conditions, traffic congestion, emergency vehicle access concerns, and neighborhood character. Several speakers argued that even 11 units would be too intense for the site and urged the Commission to keep the project at 11 units or lower.
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Oral communications (opening) — comments about a commissioner’s public statements and oath of office; request to speak later on the hearing item
During the opening oral communications period, one speaker criticized a Planning Commissioner’s public statements about federal law enforcement as inconsistent with an oath of office. Another attendee asked to speak later during the public hearing item and was directed to do so at that time.
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Modify public comment timing to allow oral communications at start and again at end of agenda
At the City Attorney’s request, the Commission voted to open a general public comment period at the beginning of the meeting (in addition to public comment during agenda items and again at the end), to accommodate speakers while remaining compliant with Brown Act requirements.
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Appeal Decision — Deny Appeal and Uphold Director’s Conditioned Approval for 11-Unit Development at 257 West Lynden Avenue
Staff recommended denying the applicant’s appeal and upholding the Community Development Director’s conditioned approval limiting the project to 11 units. After staff rebuttal, transportation and fire access discussion, applicant comments, commissioner questions, and deliberation, the Commission adopted a resolution denying the appeal and affirming the 11-unit conditioned approval.
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Public Hearing Public Comment — Appeal of Director Decision for 257 West Lynden Avenue (Parking, Safety, Emergency Access, Neighborhood Impacts)
Multiple residents and nearby homeowners spoke opposing the proposed development at 257 West Lynden Avenue, focusing on existing severe parking shortages, blocked driveways and hydrants, trash-day congestion, emergency access constraints on a narrow dead-end street, and concerns about neighborhood safety and quality of life. Speakers urged denial of the appeal and argued that even 11 units would worsen conditions.
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Oral Communications (General Public Comment) — No Speakers
The Chair opened the general public comment (oral communications) period for items not on the agenda, including instructions for in-person speaker cards and calling 818-238-3335. No in-person speakers or callers provided comments, and the Chair closed the period.
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Introduction of additional agenda items for future meetings
Council introduced future agenda item requests including a report on AB 1033 (sale of ADUs as condominiums), a review of zoning regulations for massage establishments, and a review of code of conduct issues related to a planning commissioner.
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Consent calendar approval (six items including minutes and two items described as ordinances)
Council approved the consent calendar in one motion, including approval of multiple sets of minutes and adoption of two items explicitly described as ordinances: a zone map amendment for Roselli Street pre-zoning and amendments to solid waste collection enrollment procedures.
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Planning Commission Comments — Conceptual Design for New Central Library/Civic Center Project
Staff presented the conceptual design for the Civic Center Library project and requested Planning Commission comments per a condition of the development review approval. Commissioners generally supported the multi-generational programming and open space concept, raised concerns about the amount of space devoted to parking, asked about auditorium capacity, and discussed parking needs for farmers market and library users. Staff provided a preliminary construction timeline and described the progressive design-build procurement process.
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Oral Communications (General Public Comment) — Opening
The Chair opened the general public comment (oral communications) period for items not on the agenda, with instructions for in-person speaker cards and phone participation. No in-person speaker cards or callers were received, and the period was closed.
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Additional Agenda Item Request: Zoning Regulations for Massage Establishments and Certified Massage Therapists
Vice Mayor Mullins requested a future staff report reviewing City zoning regulations affecting massage establishments, citing concerns that certified massage therapists and wellness centers are treated like “massage parlors” under outdated rules. Council agreed to add the item.
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General Public Comment Period (In-Person and Phone): Books/Curriculum, Annexation, Grants, Housing, BRT, Flock Cameras, Immigration Assistance, Zoning for Massage Therapy, and Other Topics
The Council heard general public comment from 41 speakers (29 in-person cards and 12 callers, later noted as 13 calls). Comments covered multiple topics, with many speakers urging cancellation of the City’s Flock camera contract and others addressing grants, housing, BRT, annexation, zoning, and specific development concerns.
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Staff Reports / City Planner Comments
The Chair called for staff reports and city planner comments. Staff indicated there were no reports or comments for the evening.
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Introduction of Additional Agenda Items
The Chair invited Planning Commission members to introduce new items for discussion or future agendas, noting that no action could be taken except to place an item on a future agenda. No additional items were introduced.
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Oral Communications (General Public Comment) — Opening
The Chair opened the oral communications period for comments on matters concerning city business, with instructions for in-person speaker cards and a phone-in option. No speakers came forward in person or by phone, and the Chair closed the public comment period.
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Joint general public comment (in-person and phone): censure dispute, housing/rent control, SB79/SB1361 and BRT, Flock surveillance, industrial adjacency to housing, short-term rentals, and other topics
Seventeen speakers (13 in-person cards and 4 callers) addressed varied topics including the prior censure discussion, landlord-tenant issues and rent control, SB79/SB1361 and BRT impacts, concerns about Flock surveillance, housing near industrial sites, short-term rentals and TOT, and criticism/praise of community organizations.
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Hillside View Obstructing Fences Report
The Council reviewed options for regulating fences in the hillside area following a neighbor dispute but ultimately decided to maintain existing standards while considering future R1 zoning reviews.
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Introduction of Ordinance: Roselli Street Annexation and Pre-zoning
The Council introduced an ordinance and adopted a resolution to pre-zone and annex 17 properties on Roselli Street to correct jurisdictional misalignments with the City of Glendale.
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General Plan and Zoning Map Amendments for Roselli Street Annexation
The commission discussed amendments to the general plan and zoning map to annex portions of 17 properties along Roselli Street into the city of Burbank, addressing jurisdictional issues. This action aims to resolve discrepancies in voting rights, property tax allocations, and municipal services for affected residents.
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Zoning Ordinance for Preemptive R1 Classification
The zoning ordinance establishes single-family residential (R1) zoning for portions of the 17 properties proposed for annexation into the City of Burbank. This preemptive measure ensures compliance with LAFCO requirements and consistency with the surrounding neighborhood.
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Resolution for Annexation and Jurisdictional Boundary Adjustment
The ordinance involves annexing portions of 17 properties on Roselli Street into the City of Burbank, adjusting jurisdictional boundaries with the City of Glendale. The ordinance ensures proper zoning and land use designations, facilitating municipal services and restoring voting rights to affected residents.
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General Plan and Zoning Amendments for Roselli Street Annexation
A proposal to amend the general plan and zoning map to annex portions of 17 properties on Roselli Street into the City of Burbank was presented, addressing jurisdictional issues and voting rights concerns.
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George Izay Park Master Plan Update
The George Izay Park Master Plan focuses on developing construction documents for future upgrades, with a timeline extending into fiscal year 2027-2028 for implementation.