City of Glendale, CA
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General Plan
California State law requires each city to prepare a Comprehensive General Plan to address community policies and objectives for growth and development. The City of Glendale's General Plan establishes the policies for use and protection of resources to meet community needs over a 20 to 30 year period.
Glendale's General Plan contains several sections. These sections, called elements, are each published individually. Eight topics are mandated by state law to be addressed by municipalities in their General Plans. These topics are: Circulation, Conservation, Housing, Land Use, Noise, Open Space, Safety and a new topic - Environmental Justice. Glendale's General Plan includes four additional topics: Recreation, Historic Preservation, Air Quality, and Community Facilities, which are recommended, but not required by state law. Glendale is in the process of updating the General Plan, including the Land Use, Circulation, and Safety Elements. Please visit GlendalePlan.com to learn more.
The Circulation Element, now known as the Mobility Element, defines the goals and policies for managing the movement of people and goods through the city.
The Element can be reviewed or downloaded by sections:
- Cover Page
- Table of Contents and Exhibits
- Chapter 1 - Introduction (2,759 KB)
- Chapter 2 - The Circulation Plan (19,340 KB)
- Chapter 3 - Assessment of Issues, Facilities, and Trends
- Acknowledgements and Resolution
The draft Mobility Element will be released for public review and comment on September 2, 2025. The City will provide a 30-day notice before closing the public comment period. Learn more about the Mobility Element update at GlendalePlan.com.
The City of Glendale adopted its 2021-2029 Housing Element. The Housing Element is one of the required Elements of the City's Comprehensive General Plan and is required by State law to be updated periodically. This element serves as a policy guideline for meeting the housing needs of the community. It identifies the City’s existing and projected housing needs, and establishes goals and policies to guide City officials in daily decision making in addressing these needs. Groups requiring the most urgent attention in the City are identified, such as the elderly, lower income households and the homeless.
For more information on the 6th Cycle (2021-2029) Housing Element Update, please visit the Housing Element web page.
The Land Use Element serves as a guide to land use planning and identifies how land will be used in the future - for housing, commercial, industrial, mixed-use, public facilities, parks, open space, and transportation.
It includes the Land Use Map, which visually identifies the location and distribution of each different land use. The current Land Use Map is available in the link below.
The Land Use Element was last comprehensively updated in 1986. Since then, various General Plan Amendments have been adopted, which can be viewed in the link below.
The City is currently updating its Land Use Element as part of a comprehensive planning effort.
The Public Draft Land Use Element and Draft Land Use Map are now available for review and public comment. A 30-day comment period opened June 30, 2025. It was extended by 10 days to August 29, 2025. On August 27, the comment period for the draft Land Use Element was extended indefinitely. The City will provide notice of 30 days prior to the close of the comment period for the draft Land Use Element.
Comments may also be emailed to GlendalePlan@GlendaleCA.gov.
The Noise Element of the City's General Plan was adopted on June 5, 2007. The Noise Element describes the noise environment in the City, proposes ways to lessen existing noise, and proposes methods for mitigating possible future noise impacts. The Noise Element is supplemented by the Technical Appendix which contains additional details about how the Element was created.
The primary objective of an Open Space and Conservation Element is to develop a comprehensive plan for the identification and management of natural resources.
The Element can be reviewed and downloaded by sections:
- Amendments (122 KB)
- Cover and Table of contents (2.2 MB)
- Chapter 1 - Executive Summary (934 KB)
- Chapter 2 - Introduction (4 MB)
- Chapter 3 - The Open Space and Conservation Planning Overview (5.13 MB)
- Chapter 4 - The Open Space and Conservation Plan (24 MB)
- Chapter 5 - Implementation Plan (2.5 MB)
- Chapter 6 - Endnotes (1 KB)
In compliance with recent State legislation, the City revised its Safety Element to include updated information on natural hazards such as wildfires and floods, as well as evacuation and emergency preparedness and response. Recent State Law also mandates the Safety Element to identify how these and other hazards in Glendale are exacerbated by climate change, and what populations, locations, and community features are particularly vulnerable to climate hazards and changing climate conditions.
The updated Draft Safety Element was reviewed and approved by the California Board of Forestry and Fire Prevention at their meeting on January 21, 2025. On March 5, 2025, the Planning Commission also reviewed the Draft Safety Element and made a recommendation of approval to the City Council. On April 1, 2025, the City Council adopted the 2025 Safety Element, available below:
For questions, please contact Long Range Planning at (818) 548-2140 or GlendalePlan@GlendaleCA.gov.
The City is preparing its first Environmental Justice Element, which will focus on identifying and addressing the specific needs of communities disproportionately affected by environmental hazards and pollution. This Element aims to ensure fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people - regardless of race, culture, or income - in environmental decision-making. Key goals include mitigating pollution, improving public health, and promoting equitable access to resources and a healthy environment.
The Public Draft Environmental Justice Element is now available for review and public comment. The City opened a comment period from June 30, 2025, to August 19, 2025. It was extended to August 29, 2025.
Comments may also be emailed to GlendalePlan@GlendaleCA.gov.
This draft element also includes two appendices: A) the existing conditions report and B) the outreach summary report.
Additional General Plan Elements
The Recreation Element addresses planning for parks, recreational land, and associated improvements. It provides a broad overview of existing conditions, community needs, issues and opportunities and suggests a comprehensive approach for the development and management of public recreational resources.
Recreation Element Amendment 2006-05 (in connection with the adoption of the Downtown Specific Plan)
The Air Quality Element of the City's General Plan was created to recognize and consider the relationship between land use and air quality in Glendale's planning efforts, to identify ways in which Glendale can reduce its emissions of air pollutants through various policies and programs, and to comply with the regions' Air Quality Management Plan.
Air Quality Element of the General Plan - February 1994
The overall goal of this element is for Glendale, as a city within a four-county air basin, to assist other governmental agencies in the attainment of healthful air for Glendale and other air basin residents, including those sensitive to air pollution. The Air Quality Element is an optional element of the General Plan as authorized by Section 65303 of the Government Code.
This element begins by identifying the need for, and contents of an air quality element. Pollutants and their sources are identified to provide a better understanding of effective methods to reduce pollution. For example, since 96% of carbon monoxide emissions come from mobile sources, stationary source control would not provide much benefit in reducing carbon monoxide emissions. In contrast, particulate emissions come from a wide variety of sources, including natural windblown dust. These emissions are more difficult to control. Air toxics are also addressed, since recent information has demonstrated their control to be of great importance to human health and the environment.
After the development of goals and policy objectives, the Air Quality Element identifies existing; new or expanded programs by which the City can reduce air pollution. The element then evaluates these goals, policies, and programs. First, their relationship to other plans, including other general plan elements is addressed. The element then evaluates their compliance with other regulations. The development of a local air quality element is promoted as a means to comprehensively address local air quality programs required by the 1991 Air Quality Management Plan (AQMP), prepared jointly by the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) and the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG).
The AQMP is the method by which the Southern California region demonstrates compliance with the Federal Clean Air Act, an act that has established maximum allowable pollutant concentrations. The AQMP identifies air pollution control measures to be undertaken by the Air Resources Board, SCAQMD, and other governmental agencies. It also sets air pollution reduction targets to be achieved by local governments. Without all localities in Southern California reducing emissions above and beyond those reduced by other governmental agencies, federal clean air standards could not be achieved. In addition to the continued health, property, and quality of life costs associated with polluted air, non-compliance with the Federal Clean Air Act could result in a loss of federal funds to the region, along with other possible federal sanctions.
The method called for in the AQMP to achieve emission reductions locally is through the elimination of vehicle trips and vehicle miles traveled. Vehicle trips are responsible for the majority of pollutants in Southern California, and can be reduced through appropriate land-use planning at the local level. The SCAQMD has calculated regional vehicle trip reductions needed to achieve clean air. These trip reductions were then distributed among the four counties regulated by the SCAQMD. The SCAQMD gave the responsibility to determine vehicle trip reduction targets for each locality to the County transportation authorities. Glendale is required by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) to eliminate 5,235 daily vehicle trips, (about one percent of its daily vehicle trips) by 1994. This element identifies existing programs by the City which attempts to meet this target and new or expanded programs to meet this and future trip reduction targets. While the City's existing programs do not quite meet the target, the programs demonstrate the reduction of over 90% of the trips in this target. Future programs identified in this element would bring Glendale above the target trip reduction.
The preparation of this element began with the West San Gabriel Valley Air Quality Plan. Funded through a demonstration grant by the Air Quality Management District, sixteen member cities of the West San Gabriel Valley Planning Council (Alhambra, Arcadia, Duarte, El Monte, Glendale, La Canada Flintridge, Monrovia, Monterey Park, Pasadena, Rosemead, San Gabriel, San Marino, Sierra Madre, South El Monte, South Pasadena and Temple City) agreed in January, 1992 to participate in the development of an area wide air quality plan that could be adopted in some form by each local jurisdiction. Gruen Associates was hired to prepare the plan.
The first step in the West San Gabriel Valley Air Quality Plan process was to conduct a series of 20 interviews with staff members and elected officials of the participating jurisdictions. The purpose of the interviews was to determine local concerns and ideas, as well as to better understand the local policy and technical issues of the participating jurisdictions.
The consultant team then prepared an Issues and Opportunities Report, which analyzed the technical and policy issues in the study area. The intent of this report was to provide both local and regional perspectives on the air quality problems and issues of the West San Gabriel Valley. The Issues and Opportunities Report constituted a basis for identifying a menu of strategies that was suited to the West San Gabriel Valley and its cities. A draft menu of measures was developed in June, 1992 for public and jurisdictional discussion and review.
A series of public workshops were held in July, 1992 to elicit public comment on the draft menu of air quality improvement measures. The public was informed of the workshops via mailings, articles, and notices in the local papers. The mailing list included citizens, community groups, and business groups from each of the 16 municipalities, as well as environmental organizations and applicable agencies through the region. The workshops afforded community representatives, business groups, the SCAQMD and individuals the opportunity to express their ideas and concerns regarding the menu of strategies prior to development of the Draft Air Quality Plan. This was followed by a meeting with the SCAQMD to gain the agency’s input on the document. District comments have been included in the plan, which was accepted by participating cities, as a guidance document for the development of individual plans, regulations, or general plan elements.
A local Glendale task force representing builders, major employers, homeowners, the Chamber of Commerce, the Transportation and Parking Commission, the Planning Commission, and City staff met in September and October, 1993 to develop goals, policies and programs for the Air Quality Element. The group identified five goals which were considered to be a desirable future of air quality in Glendale. Policy objectives to achieve these goals were then recommended. The task force used the West San Gabriel Valley Air Quality Plan, as a starting point to discuss existing programs and new or expanded programs which should be included in the element. The task force recommendations proceeded to a joint study session of the City Council, Transportation and Parking Commission, and Planning Commission on October 12, 1993.
The Transportation and Parking Commission was given a draft of the Air Quality Element for review and comment in October 1993. This draft contained the first twelve proposed programs of this element. The Commission, at a public hearing on October 25, 1993, voted unanimously to recommend incorporation of the Air Quality Element into the City’s General Plan with two additional programs as follows:
- (1) The bicycle master plan to be prepared by the City (Program No. 9) should include consideration of areas where electric “golf-cart” type vehicles may be appropriate; and
- (2) A new program (No. 13) should be added which involves assessing the possibility of an electric trolley system (bus or rail) to serve downtown Glendale, and to implement such system as appropriate.
With the above changes, the Planning Commission also recommended inclusion of the element in the City’s General Plan. Recommendations received from SCAG on December 30, 1994 included minor changes to the text and an additional program to encourage alteration or rerouting of truck trips during peak-hour travel periods. These have also been included in the Air Quality Element.
This element has been prepared primarily with emission forecasting and regulations contained in the 1991 AQMP and 1993 Trip Reduction Ordinance Handbook. The Air Quality Element, as a policy and program document, is subject to change due to changing technology, knowledge, or regulations from other governmental levels. Nonetheless, the element demonstrates a long-term commitment on the part of the City of Glendale to achieve healthful air.
The Community Facilities Element contains discussion and clarification of educational facilities, libraries, parks, commercial-recreational facilities, organizations, protection facilities, post offices, government facilities, health facilities, cemeteries, religious facilities, transportation facilities, utilities and vacant land.
Mobility Plans
The City of Glendale has updated its Transportation Impact Analysis (TIA) Guidelines to require vehicle miles traveled (VMT) analysis as part of transportation analysis and environmental review for development projects in the city, consistent with the requirements of Senate Bill 743 (SB 743). Passed by the State of California in 2013, SB 743 requires lead agencies, such as the City of Glendale, to no longer rely upon traditional automobile-focused performance measures such as level of service (LOS) for analyzing project impacts under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Instead, the California Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation (LCI) has recommended VMT as the most appropriate measure of transportation impacts. The shift to analyzing project-generated VMT promotes the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, the development of multimodal transportation networks, and a diversity of land uses. These new TIA Guidelines went into effect on July 1st, 2020. If you are interested in learning more about Senate Bill 743, please refer to the State of California Governor's Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation project webpage.
In addition to VMT evaluations for CEQA, the City’s new Transportation Impact Analysis Guidelines maintain automobile LOS requirements for assessing local congestion and traffic operations. In addition, the Guidelines also include assessments for impacts to public transit, bicycles, pedestrians, and safety. The City is developing a VMT Matrix Analysis.
For technical assistance or questions regarding implementation of the Traffic Impact Analysis Guidelines, please contact: Fred Zohrehvand | Principal Mobility Planner | FZohrehvand@GlendaleCA.gov
The City of Glendale created an Online Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) Mapping Tool to provide information on VMT for locations within the City of Glendale based on the most recent version of the existing citywide travel demand model. Users can look up a location by address or by the assessor's parcel number (APN). Please note, this tool cannot be used to estimate VMT for retail projects or other projects that use the Total VMT metric and threshold. Please consult with City staff before using this tool and refer to the City's TIA Guidelines for more information and direction.
The Citywide Pedestrian Plan is a long-term plan for Glendale with near term steps for action. The Plan will establish a comprehensive, centralized, and coordinated approach to improving pedestrian infrastructure, safety, and demand with Glendale. It is funded through a $500,000 Caltrans Active Transportation Program (ATP) grant. The Glendale Citywide Pedestrian Plan will make Glendale a safer, more pleasant, and more convenient place for walking. View final versions of part I & II of the plan below.
Part I: Taking Stock, published September 2016
Part II: Taking Steps, published February 2021
City of Glendale streets and intersections should be safe for everyone. The City's draft Vision Zero Action Plan will outline how the city can eliminate traffic fatalities and severe injuries while increasing safe, healthy and equitable options for getting around Glendale. The Vision Zero Action Plan will build upon the work of the Bicycle Transportation Plan update. Learn more about the plan at on the Vision Zero Action Plan webpage.
Vision
To create a healthier community and provide transportation options for those who cannot or do not drive.
Plan Purpose
The design of our city, work sites, and streets influences how much physical activity we get and plays an important role in preventing many chronic conditions - such as obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and asthma. There is compelling research data that show that streets designed to facilitate walking and biking are safer and succeed in increasing the number of people who walk and bike. Glendale's Safe and Healthy Streets Plan has the potential to boost levels of physical activity and help reverse current obesity trends among residents. It provides policies to make Glendale a safer and friendlier city for pedestrians and bicyclists.
Safe & Healthy Streets Plan - Adopted April 19, 2011 (entire document)
Safe & Healthy Streets Plan By Chapter
Safe & Healthy Streets Plan - Appendix
For more information, please call (818) 937-8333.
The Downtown Mobility Study was adopted by City Council on March 6, 2007 and complements the Downtown Specific Plan approved by City Council in November 2006. The Mobility Study was developed to accommodate expected growth in downtown Glendale, achieving Glendale's vision of a vibrant multi-use downtown, without significantly increasing auto congestion or impacting quality of life. The Mobility Study provides policies to simultaneously accommodate new growth and enhance mobility downtown.
The Downtown Mobility Study focuses on establishing transit and pedestrian-friendly policies within the Downtown Specific Plan area. The following are the main policy concepts of the Downtown Mobility Study:
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Street Types: Designate street types to primarily serve autos, pedestrians or transit to provide policy guidance on street design and operation. Revise level of service (LOS) criteria based on movement of people versus cars.
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Street Capacity Enhancements: Limit future road widening within the downtown area to auto priority streets as mentioned in the Mobility Study – Central Avenue, Colorado Street and Glendale Avenue.
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Transit Service: Update the Beeline brand and routes with seamless connections between regional and local services, including the incorporation of a downtown circulator (the “Buzz”) to connect from the Glendale Transportation Center (now called "Larry Zarian Transportation Center") to the proposed East-West MTA Connector in northern Glendale.
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Parking Management: Maximize current parking availability through improved signs and pricing strategies.
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Transportation Demand Management (TDM): Increase awareness of incentives for alternative transportation programs, enhancing and strengthening the existing TDM ordinance.
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Funding and Financing: Create locally-generated financing mechanisms to be channeled into a Downtown Transportation Fund to pay for transit and streetscape improvements. Once local financing is well-established, seek state and federal funding for large-scale transit improvements.
Mobility Study Implementation
October 28, 2014 City staff presentation and Glendale City Council discussion on policies related to the Downtown Specific Plan & Mobility Study
Download the Mobility Study Document:
- Downtown Mobility Study (Entire document 75,238 KB)
- Downtown Mobility Study (Chapter-by-chapter)
Related Plans (available on this page)
- Downtown Specific Plan
- Bikeway Master Plan
- Circulation Element
Related Websites
For more information, please call (818) 937-8333.
As part of the City of Glendale's Land Use and Mobility Update project, we will:
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Prepare a focused update to the Land Use, Circulation, and Housing Elements of the City's General Plan
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Address new state requirements regarding the way we analyze transportation impacts consistent with SB 743
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Develop a Transportation Impact Mitigation Fee for incoming and future development projects
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Analyze potential impacts associated with implementation of the project and prepare a Program Environmental Impact Report
Learn more at GlendalePlan.com.
Please visit GlendaleTransit.com for information about Glendale's transit services including:
Strategic Plans
We continually strive to improve the livability and quality of life in Glendale. These plans address urban art, safe and healthy streets, and overall sustainability.
The Urban Art Program seeks to promote a diverse and stimulating cultural environment to enrich the quality of life for residents and visitors. The Program encourages the creative interaction of artists, developers, designers, city officials and community members during the design of development projects, in order to develop public art that is meaningful to the site and to the community. The Program anticipates a diverse range of art experiences throughout the city’s commercial districts, enlivening the public space available during the everyday routines of walking to work, eating at a sidewalk café, or shopping.
The Urban Art Program was initiated in 2006 with the adoption of the Downtown Specific Plan (DSP). On December 14, 2010, Glendale City Council adopted ordinances to expand the program city-wide.
What projects are subject to the Urban Art Program?
The Program applies to new buildings and structures, or to the alteration or repair of buildings or structures valued at $500,000 or more as determined by the Building Official. Projects located in the commercial and mixed-use zones (specifically the DSP, IMU, IMU-R, SFMU, C1, C2, C3, CR, and CPD zoning districts) are subject to the Program. The requirement does not apply to Industrial or Residential zones. Development applications which have not received a building permit prior to January 14, 2010 shall be subject to the rules and regulations of this ordinance.
What is the requirement?
The Program provides the option to install the art on-site, or to make an in-lieu payment:
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On-site art equals 2 percent (2%) of the project value, or
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In-lieu payment equals 1 percent (1%) of the project value.
When is the on-site art requirement met?
Urban Art Plans for the project site and buildings or structures are subject to approval by the applicable Design Review authority, upon recommendation from the Arts and Culture Commission or other body designated by City Council. Urban Art Plans must be approved before building permits can be issued, and shall provide for the installation of public art with a value of at least two percent of the project valuation as determined by the Building Official. The on-site art shall be installed in compliance with the Urban Art Plan before issuance of final certificate of occupancy.
When is the in-lieu fee paid?
Before the issuance of final building permits. If the valuation of the project changes during construction, the fee shall be adjusted accordingly. The balance of the fee, if any, shall be paid prior to final building inspection.
Are there exemptions to this requirement?
Yes, Urban Art requirements do not apply to the following:
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Projects financed with public funds,
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Small and/or affordable residential buildings and structures,
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Residential buildings or structures of 1 or 2 units, or residential buildings or structures serving those units with more than 25 percent of the units available to low- or moderate- income households
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Projects financed with development in-lieu fees,
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Capital Improvement projects,
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Projects involving Designated Historic Resources,
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Project involving nonprofit service providers (defined as 501(c)(3) under the IRS code), and
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Vehicle dealerships.
Useful Links
For more information about the Urban Art Fund and Programs, or the Arts and Culture Commission, please call (818) 548-2042. For more information about the Zoning Code, please ask to speak to planner at (818) 548-2115.
Glendale is improving livability and sustainability through its implementation of the Compass Blueprint Strategic Plan. The Compass Blueprint is a series of strategies to improve the quality of life put forth by the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) as part of the Regional Comprehensive Plan. Glendale’s Compass Blueprint strategy has eight points that aim at coordinating growth, including focusing growth downtown and strengthening neighborhoods.
Community Plans
“We value and embrace a rural suburban lifestyle which allows us to live and work close to nature, offers unique and varied neighborhood-based shopping opportunities, quality schools, a variety of recreational opportunities and recognizes our connection to the mountains, neighboring communities, and our history. We seek to protect open space, advocate sustainable development, preserve and enhance neighborhood character, provide transportation options and balance land uses.”
The North Glendale Community Plan is the official guide to development within the neighborhoods and commercial districts of the La Crescenta and Montrose areas of Glendale. It is intended to shape positive community change and foster sustainable land use patterns, while balancing the unique character of the community with citywide policies and regional initiatives.
North Glendale Community Plan - Adopted November 29, 2011
By Chapter:
Cover, Table of Contents, Chapter 1 and 2
Chapter 3 - Principles
Chapter 4 - Places
Chapter 5 - Policy Framework
Historic Context
The South Glendale Community Plan in development since 2013 will be the official guide to development within the neighborhoods & commercial districts of the South Glendale areas of the City. It is intended to shape positive community change and foster sustainable land use patterns, while balancing the unique character of the community with citywide policies and regional initiatives.
South Glendale Community Draft Plan
Chapter 1: Introduction
Chapter 2: Community Vision
Chapter 3: Principles
Chapter 4: Places
Chapter 5: Policy Framework
Chapter 6: Implementation
Appendices
Appendix A.1: Historic Context
Appendix A.2: Historic Survey
Appendix B: Past Plans
Appendix C: Tropico TOD Center
Appendix D: Land Use Map of South Glendale
Appendix E: Zoning and Land Use Classifications in South Glendale
Appendix F: Greener Glendale Sustainability Concepts
Draft Land Use Element Amendment
Draft Circulation Element Amendment
Proposed Zoning Map & Land Use Map Changes
Downtown Specific Plan Boundary
C3 III Height District
Tropico Center Plan
Additional Resources
EIR
Maps & Documents
Meetings & Events
Planning Areas
Vision
Contact Us
SGCP@GlendaleCA.gov
The West Glendale Sustainable Transportation and Land Use Study will provide recommendations to support transit use, walking and bicycling. These recommendations would help reduce vehicle miles traveled and greenhouse gas emissions while enhancing quality of life for the West Glendale community.
Review the West Glendale Sustainable Transportation and Land Use Study.
Downtown Glendale Plans
The Downtown Specific Plan is a mixed-use, urban design plan that establishes the desired physical vision for Downtown Glendale through a clear and comprehensive set of policies, incentives, and requirements. The Plan establishes a coherent and consistent regulatory framework of standards and guidelines in the form of an easy-to-read, graphics-based manual. It sets the physical standards and guidelines as well as land use regulations, and directs policies for economic development; streetscape improvements; transportation development; parking; pedestrian amenities; open space and land use; preservation of cultural resources; and public art.
A corresponding Mobility Study gathers under a single umbrella the full range of best-practices to reduce auto congestion and promote multi-modal transportation. Each of these - free bus shuttle, parking benefit districts, in-lieu fees, and transit-priority streets, among others - is tailored to the physical vision articulated by the Downtown Specific Plan.
The Downtown Specific Plan was comprehensively updated on March 26, 2019. The Downtown Specific Plan is available by chapter below.
Cover and Table of Contents
Chapter 1 - Introduction
Chapter 2 - Downtown Districts
Chapter 3 - Land Use
Chapter 4 - Urban Design
Chapter 5 - Open Space
Chapter 6 - Mobility
Chapter 7 - Community Benefits
Chapter 8 - Economic Development
Chapter 9 - Implementation Review
Credits and Appendix
Related Resources
Downtown Art & Entertainment (see section below)
Final Program Environmental Impact Report
Vision
A concentration or clustering of theaters, nightclubs, art galleries, music or comedy clubs, art galleries, concept stores, and other similar venues for live entertainment in addition to spin-off restaurants and bars. The District promotes a mixed-use, mixed-income demographic neighborhood environment with both rental and for-sale residential options.
Project Area
Maryland Avenue between Wilson and Harvard. Maryland Avenue is anchored at either end by prominent civic and cultural venues – the historic Alex Theater to the north and the Central Library at the south – and includes the 1990s-era Exchange and Marketplace retail developments with nearby public parking garages.
Incentives
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A “creative sign” permit process;
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Parking incentives (universal valet, shared parking policies);
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Standards for specific uses to eliminate discretionary approvals for desired uses such as theaters, nightclubs, and sports bars;
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District licensing procedures to ensure minimum standards of quality and professionalism by entertainment operators and promoters; and façade and tenant improvement grant programs.
Useful Links
Art & Entertainment District Renderings
Downtown Specific Plan (see section above)
For more information, please call (818) 548-2005.
The Mobility Study gathers under a single umbrella the full range of best-practices to reduce auto congestion and promote multi-modal transportation. Each of these - free bus shuttle, parking benefit districts, in-lieu fees, and transit-priority streets, among others - is tailored to the physical vision articulated by the Downtown Specific Plan. More information about the Mobility Study is available in the Mobility Plans section above.
The Central Park Plan turns the largest green space in Downtown Glendale into a vibrant focal core. Central Park is for everyone. Providing a front yard to the Central Library, the Adult Recreation Center, and the Armenian American Museum, the Park will be a destination designed for community and engagement.
Learn more about this project on this Community Services & Parks Department webpage.
Prior to preparing preliminary conceptual plans, the City held two outreach workshops in January 2018 to involve the residents, businesses and other stakeholders from the Glendale community. Over 250 people attended and participated in several interactive design activities. The workshops sought public input in addressing existing needs and potential opportunities in the development of preliminary concept plans for this urban open space. The workshop presentation and activities are linked below.
Community Meeting Slide Presentation
Activity 1 - Get To Know Your Project
Activity 2 - Central Park Block
Activity 3 - Central Park Personality Quiz