Calling the Talaria at Burbank mixed-use project proposed in the city's Media District "too dense" and "not appropriate," Burbank Mayor David Gordon chastised his City Council colleagues this week for supporting the development.
Gordon was the lone dissenter in a series of 4-1 votes on four measures that cleared the way for the proposed 241-unit luxury apartment complex on top of a 43,000-square-foot Whole Foods.
"All of you have dropped the ball," Gordon said during a council discussion that capped a lengthy public hearing.
The hearing had been continued from an Oct. 7 meeting, when a capacity crowd filled council chambers and nearly 50 residents voiced support or opposition to the project. Many cited potential traffic and environmental impacts.
Developer Michael Cusumano, city staff and others involved with the project also spoke, rebutting some public comments and answering dozens of questions from council members.
Gordon said the project's environmental review fell short of city and state requirements, and he expressed concerns about pedestrian and wheelchair accessibility, traffic and an exception that will allow the developer to build 18 more apartments than typically would be allowed under the city's general plan.
Despite Gordon's objections, other council members said that after reviewing all of the material, including hundreds of emails from the public, they concluded the project should get the green light — but not without an amendment intended to reduce traffic impacts.
In light of substantial public comment from residents concerned about existing and future traffic issues around the development and a 20-minute video illustrating the problem, the council adopted an amendment requiring Cusumano to contribute an additional $100,000 toward traffic mitigation, for a total of $250,000.
The council also adopted a measure to set aside an additional $750,000 for traffic mitigation including cul-de-sacs, which several residents had lobbied for to prevent cut-through traffic on their residential streets.
"I think it is imperative that we restore the quiet," said Councilwoman Emily Gabel-Luddy. "The neighbors really do deserve to have their neighborhood back."
The extra money will come out of proceeds from the $1.2-million sale of city-owned property to Cusumano for the project.
The sale price of the property — appraised at just under $1 million on the low end and $3.7 million on the high end — was another point of contention for Gordon. He argued that because the land is critical to the developer's plans, "it's absolutely worth every penny" of the nearly $4-million valuation.
The $1.2-million purchase price represented a steep discount because of the irregular shape and location of the plots. City Manager Mark Scott cautioned against setting a precedent of selling such "remnant" properties for the maximum appraisal price.
Gordon said he would have considered a discounted price, just not as steep as what staff proposed. But the council opted not to seek a higher price.
"If there ever was a giveaway, that's a giveaway," Gordon said.
chad.garland@latimes.com
Twitter: @chadgarland
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