By Brian CHERNICK

The decision to extend the moratorium on permits and entitlements for residential development projects in Glendale’s downtown area for an additional 10 months was delayed by the Glendale City Council in order to provide staff time to present options.

The 45-day moratorium was approved with the bare minimum required to pass with a 4-to-1 vote in late March after community members urged council to reconsider future projects due to concerns of growing traffic, noise, pollution and parking in the downtown area. Staff was instructed at the time to reevaluate incentives and exceptions given to development projects as well as inclusionary housing, density standards, design enhancements and traffic impact fees.

Mayor Zareh Sinanyan, who has opposed the moratorium and was the lone vote against its implementation in March, stated he would support a more limited or selective moratorium that would include exceptions for certain projects in the downtown area, such as conversions of commercial building to residential and ownership projects.

Councilmember Vartan Gharpetian agreed with Sinanyan’s position on a limited moratorium that provided exceptions for projects that incentivized ownership projects, arguing it would benefit the Glendale community and open up more units for the public.

“You move people around by building housing they can buy and live in,” Gharpetian said. “That has always been my position – building something for the people of this community so that they can purchase and move in and they free up their rental units. That adds to your residential housing stock.”

Not everyone was on board, however. Councilmember Paula Devine opposed any exceptions or carve-outs, suggesting that making such exceptions would defeat the purpose of a moratorium.

“How are we making this better for our residents by allowing a carve-out?” Devine argued. “Let’s be fair, let’s have a moratorium if we decide to have a moratorium and not carve out anything. A moratorium is a moratorium.”

The moratorium is scheduled to end on May 11 unless council is able to pass the 10 month and 15 day extension with at least four out of five votes.