Height Limits of Foothill Buildings up for Debate

City officials are currently working on a North Glendale Community Plan, which will be an official guide to developers building in neighborhoods and commercial districts in Montrose and La Crescenta. Details of the plan, particularly the height limit of buildings on Foothill Blvd., were the subject of a recent meeting.

Members of the CVCA raised the question over whether the current 50-foot height limit for buildings should sink to 35 feet, or lie somewhere in between.

"We want consistency along Foothill that all the building heights should be in the same range," said CVCA member Susan Bolan. "If you look at Foothill right now, most of the buildings do not exceed [35 feet] ... because we wanted the views of the Verdugos and the San Gabriels."

Buildings as high as the current 50-foot maximum would block the mountains along the Crescenta Valley's main thoroughfare, so most developers have chosen not to push the height limit, Bolan said.

"One of the major points of contention ... is ... design standards for Foothill properties," said Alan Loomis, Glendale's principal urban designer. "We have been working with the community well over two years trying to establish parameters, and the core of the issue for residents is ultimately how tall should buildings be allowed on Foothill."

Loomis identified loss of mountain views, the possible "canyonization" effect of a boulevard lined with 50-foot buildings, and the impact on single-family residences adjacent to Foothill as residents' key concerns. Loomis is currently working on the community plan.

"For the last two years community members have put a lot of time and effort into constructing this North Glendale Community Plan with the idea that they would be listened to, and their voices seem be drowned out," said CVCA member David Meyers, who believes that developers seem to have more clout with city officials.

Loomis expects the Glendale City Council to vote on the plan this fall.