Save the Rancho in Burbank

The Burbank Rancho neighborhood is one of the city's most unique features, especially if you're a horse or horse owner.  The homes are zoned (most of them) to allow the stabling and boarding of horses in the back yard.  There are Griffith Park riding trails close by, and the neighborhood blends into the Glendale Rancho area.  It is also home to the L.A. Equestrian Center.  The residents are understandably very protective of the Rancho and have faced -- and beaten -- challenges to development over the years.

Now, the GM training facility in the neighborhood has been sold, and the new developer wants to put up a 50-unit detached condo complex.  Most of the Rancho neighbors object as it affects the neighborhood's character and is just too damned big.  Last night's Burbank City Council held public comments on the issue and predictably, it was running about 20-0 against the project (some of the comments were, uh, very um, racist inappropriate).  The objecting area residents seem to favor an equine hospital instead.  If you'd like to learn more about this issue, please visit SavetheRancho.com.  Where do I stand? I understand why developers like big projects -- it's more money for them.  But why do cities like big projects? Why must all development be big, with all of bigness's attendant problems? If not the horse vet center, why not, say, 10 homes zoned for horses, such as the Dincara Street development?

Burbank's Magnolia Blvd. now has three gun stores

How many gun stores does one Burbank street need? Lots, apparently. Magnolia Boulevard now has three gun stores within the mile between Victory and Buena Vista. Is there that much demand in that neighborhood? (I'd like to point out that there are only two bars in the same stretch of road. Probably a good thing, considered.) Is this what the Magnolia Park folks (the merchants association) had in mind? Is this what the city council had in mind? Is this the same city council that would not allow new restaurant establishments on the same stretch of road a few years back because patrons might park on surrounding residential streets? Um, priorities?

The NBC Universal Expansion Plan, Burbank and the Burbank Leader

Today's Burbank Leader has an article about the NBC Universal Expansion plan and how it may effect Burbank.  The environment impact report link is here -- but it's 27 volumes.  Burbank's Community Development Department is in the process of reviewing the report's findings, and comments about the report can be submitted to the City Council by Jan. 3.  The report states that traffic will only be minimally impacted, because everybody will take the bus.  Oh, please.