Northwest Glendale Homeowners Association
Largest Neighborhood Association in Glendale
Fall 2003 Volume 13 #3
President's Message: Tell Us What You Think
North Pacific Avenue Design Review Reviewed
Hillside Development Standards Hearing
Kenneth Village Spotlight--"Art of It" a Hidden Jewel of a Beauiy Salon
Tell Us What You Think
By Peter Fuad
NWGHA President
With the insert in this issue of The Guardian, the Board of Directors of the Northwest Glendale Homeowners Association is asking its members what issues we should be involved in and what our positions ought to be on those issues.
As you know, your Board has taken an active stance on a number of issues affecting our community throughout the years. As guiding principles, we have only taken positions and participated in hearings, commission and council meetings and meetings with City staff with respect to issues (a) that are core to our mission, (b) where we believe we represent the views of our membership, (c) that directly affect Northwest Glendale and (d) where our membership would like us to participate.
We believe these principles— which have guided the Association since its founding—make the NWGHA a unique and credible public voice in the city. We don’t want to become just another bleating voice pontificating on every issue of the day
Increasingly, new issues are now confronting Glendale and, in particular, Northwest Glendale. At the same time, we are now being subjected to new criticism when we appear at public forums to advocate positions on behalf of the NWGHA. Given the immediacy and importance of these issues, we think it is time to poll our membership and get your feedback now, rather than wait until our general membership meeting next Spring.
Recent Events Raise the Stakes
A number of recent events have made this feedback imperative:
· Design Review Board Appearances. As many of you know, we endeavor to have a board member appear before hearings of the Design Review Board when a project in Northwest Glendale that we identify as being problematic is scheduled to be heard.
In fact, we view our participation in these hearings as one of the primary missions of this Association. It takes considerable time and devotion on behalf of our board members who do appear to adequately prepare and appear at these hearings, which frequently include multiple appearances by an applicant before the board.
However, a number of applicants and their architects are now telling us in front of the DRB that our comments are not appreciated and that we should just butt out unless one of us is actually an affected homeowner.
Some may think that this criticism indicates we have strayed from what our mission. Others may see these types of comments as evidence of our effectiveness.
· Reviewing DRB Projects Beforehand. From time to time applicants for projects have asked to meet with the Board before they submit their project to DRB so that we can review and comment upon it. Applicants tell us they want to address concerns we may have before going into the formal DRB hearing. This might give the Association earlier and more effective input into the design of a project. In some cities, homeowner association review is actually required.
However, we have always resisted this as a matter of policy since our founding for a number of reasons. First, we have always felt that decisions affecting the public should be carried out in official, open public hearings, which a DRB hearing is. Secondly, it would take considerable time and expertise to analyze a project, which would take us away from more general homeowner issues . Also, we do not think we have the expertise to comment on the technical aspects of a project. Finally, we have been wary of being manipulated by applicants. They might use an appearance before us as being a recommendation of the project when, in fact it might not be. They might show us only the renderings of a project which can be seriously misleading as to the final plans.
· Specific Design Issues. The city is actively looking at code revisions and addressing complex design issues. This is a huge, ongoing task, and one we applaud. However, the actual issues are difficult. Should oversize attached or underground garages be counted towards the maximum size of a new home? They aren’t effectively now. Should detached garages and some porch additions be exempt from design review? They may be now. Should there be limits on circular driveways? Is historical districting a good thing?
Please Respond
Please tell us what you think. Please complete and return the survey set forth on the insert in this issue.
We will analyze the results and announce them in the next issue of The Guardian.
Your board will listen to what you have to say. By responding to our survey,
you will help us be and remain a respected, listened-to voice in the city working
for the betterment of Northwest Glendale.
North Pacific Avenue Design Review Reviewed
By Lawrence Kalfayan
The large home “remodel” at 1606 North Pacific Avenue (southeast corner of Pacific Avenue and Cumberland Road) has been of continuing concern to many residents of the area. Here is a brief synopsis of the planning decisions relating to the project.
NWGHA
Meets with Planning Director
Concerned neighbors contacted the NWGHA about the project. NWGHA President Peter Fuad and VP Lawrence Kalfayan met with neighbors and the City of Glendale Director of Planning Elaine Wilkerson on August 21 to discuss the project. Joining the discussion were City Planner Chris Baxter and Building and Safety Department building inspector Stuart Tom.
The first question was whether the project had received all requisite planning department approvals. Ms. Wilkerson and staff members reviewed the project plans and tracked the various approvals issued by the City at various intervals during the project’s approval and building process.
Specific concerns included tree removal, the overall size and height of the home, a wall between the garage and the home and the enclosure of a patio—both as initially approved and as later changed over time.
A Series of Approvals
The
Design Review Board approved the original design of the home. Subsequently,
a series of changes to the original plan were applied for—and approved—on
a piecemeal basis. These changes included the addition of a garage bathroom
and an auxiliary room adjacent to the garage. According to City staff, the changes
related to the garage would have received greater scrutiny had they been presented
all at once.
Certain other changes were allowed as construction progressed as being customary,
small deviations from the approved plans.
In sum, the original design and all changes have been legally approved by the
City at one time or another.
“Zero Tolerance”
Ms. Wilkerson and Mr. Tom emphasized, however, that this project has been treated on a “zero-tolerance” basis for deviations from the approved plans.
his raised the issue of what, exactly, constitutes an “approved plan.” Staff noted that only elements specifically referred to in the DRB approval are considered part of the approved plan. So, for instance, unless a specific window treatment is specified in the approval, building inspectors and staff can exercise their discretion in approving the final treatment.
This project highlighted several important issues:
· Deviations from a project as presented to DRB may be allowed without public hearings unless DRB approval was expressly conditioned on including such element.
·
Piecemeal approvals may result in numerous changes to the project. Planning
indicates that they have now instituted a “case” approach to projects
whereby one person oversees a project and all subsequent approvals, which should
reduce inappropriate cumulative changes.
· Neighbors must monitor projects even after DRB approval.
NWGHA Help
We believe that the NWGHA helped concerned neighbors through our expertise and knowledge. And city staff was cooperative and responsive in addressing homeowner concerns in this case.
By Bob Getts
Public hearings have been scheduled for
several proposed amendments to the city code, which if adopted will strengthen
hillside development and other home building standards in Glendale.
City Council recently gave a green light for the Planning Commission to conduct a public hearing regarding the proposed changes on Monday, November 3. A second hearing will be held by City Council during its regular meeting on Tuesday, December 2.
Proposed Amendments
The proposed amendments include such things as prohibiting home building on steep lots, reducing the maximum allowable height of hillside homes, and tightening Floor Area Ratio (FAR) requirements. FAR is used by the city in determining the maximum size home that can be built on a certain size lot.
The Association believes the proposed changes
are important in helping to achieve better compatibility of home building and
remodeling projects with the surrounding neighborhood. We are reviewing these
amendments and intend to prepare comments that address those issues that could
impact our members. Members interested in supporting compatibility of home development
in Northwest Glendale are urged to consider attending one of the upcoming public
hearings. If you would like to know more about the proposed amendments or the
public hearings, please call the Association’s Hotline at 818-754-8274.
"Art of It" a Hidden Jewel
of a Beauiy Salon
By Kathleen
Giachino By Kathy Giachino Hidden behind a small storefront
in Kenneth Village is a jewel of a beauty salon. Art of it All is styled after the
Palm Beach salons and holds up against the fashionable salons in Beverly Hills
and Pasadena. High-end services and products are offered without the high end
prices. Bill and Beverly Spalding operate
Art of it All. Their combined skills as hair stylist and manager helped to create
a salon a step above the average. Bill and Beverly started their
first salon in Inglewood. Bill, one of the best colorist and hairstylist, attracted
a variety of clients. Women came from all over town for his neckline cuts. He
was a platform stylist at the beauty shows and did hairstyles for weddings and
special events as well. In 1997 Bill and Beverly decided
to combine their talents and open Art of it All. Beverly utilized her people
skills as a former sales manager for Pacific Bell to start up a unique full
service salon in the village. The business took off after a
short time. Starting with three hairdressers, Beverly advertised and began adding
facialists, masseuses, and a manicurist. She hires stylists based on their talent
to cut and color well. Choosing not to look like a beauty
salon she decorated with pictures of vacation scenery creating a relaxed atmosphere.
She wanted the Palm Beach ambience. The salon uses the G.M. Collin
and Esthederm facial products, Goldwell colors and Redkin perms. Services offered include: Hairstyling,
coloring, permanents, braiding, cornrolls, facials, massages, manicures and
spa pedicures. The salon offers specials and
enjoys promoting the business by donations to groups for special events. Stop by and take of tour of this
unique salon at 1403 Kenneth Road in the Village. Or call 818-242-8115 for an
appointment.
First Salon in Inglewood
The Inglewood salon was named Mr. Bill’s. Another Mr. Bill’s opened
in Montebello and then Art’s in the Kenneth Village opened 29 years ago.
She learned from her experience as a manager to always tell the truth to the
customer. The truth, she says, keeps them coming back.