Re: Appeal of Design Review Board decision PDR 1723012-B;
1633 S. Victory Blvd. 3-story, 64-room hotel with ingress and egress
access to 2 level of underground parking from public alleyway — allowing
for a single business monopolization of alleyway and burden of
cumulative traffic congestion.
As the date approaches for our appeal case to be heard by City Council, we will be adding photos to our feature called “alley traffic photo of the day.” The point of this is so that our concerns about cumulative alley congestion, resident access, and potential of injury are not heard as typical generic cries of “traffic,” but are instead clearly demonstrated, over time, and shown to be a real condition, not merely an opinion based in projection, assumptions, or fear.
April 16, 2019
A vehicle stops briefly alongside the Chevron gas station. Parking on the gas station is full. (time: 10:16:27 a.m.)Two minutes later, two tow trucks enter the alley. In the background a news van enters the gas station simultaneously. (time: 10:18:34 a.m.)The tow trucks utilize the remaining alley lane to bypass the passenger vehicle. (time: 10:18:44 a.m.)The tow trucks stop briefly aligned in front of the stopped passenger vehicle allowing room for passing traffic. Their position is directly across from the proposed hotel’s underground parking entrance. (time: 10:19:09 a.m.)This is a Glendale municipal sanitation vehicle. It’s design is one rarely seen in the alley; a back loading truck of smaller than standard size. The operator explained to me that it is used primarily for narrow city streets. This truck was not on its regular route. Often, drivers of large vehicles will make a brief stop for a beverage or to use a restroom. (time: 1:07:03 p.m.)A pickup truck passes through the open alley lane alongside the sanitation vehicle as city employees stay clear of its path. (time: 1:07:57)Eleven seconds later a black van blocks the alley mouth as it leaves Chevron gas station to enter onto Victory Blvd. (time: 1:08:08 p.m.)Another passenger vehicle passes the sanitation truck through the available passing lane. (time: 1:08:39 p.m.)Less than a half an hour later I was able to capture this image of a full size Glendale sanitation truck. Note the space required to lift the recycling bin and the position of the truck upon the alley over the center gutter. (time: 1:38:00 p.m.)
April 17, 2019
A Spectrum Cable truck enters the alleyway while a passenger vehicle simultaneously enters the gas station (time: 1:32:33 p.m.)As the Spectrum vehicle approaches the Lake St. mouth of the alley, it encounters traffic, including a Waste Management sanitation vehicle (time: 1:33:47 p.m.)A Glendale Water and Power van parks briefly, directly across from the proposed hotel’s underground parking entrance. (time: 1:50:23 p.m.)Local residents are seen in the alley as a sanitation vehicle approaches to empty large residential trash bins. Note the truck in the process of lifting one as the photo was taken (time: 2:00:12 p.m.)Here we see the first emptied bin placed back in its original position while a second one is being emptied. A third bin has been positioned for lifting as a municipal worker stands by ready to replace the containers in their designated spaces. (time: 2:02:22 p.m.)The truck has advanced closer toward Victory Blvd. as it readies to empty a fourth trash container. (time: 2:04:03 p.m.)Having completed its pickups, the sanitation vehicle approaches Victory Blvd. to exit the alley and continue its route. (time: 2:05:18 p.m.)Glendale Police Department makes a traffic stop in the alleyway. Police activity can vary in length due to the time required for specific circumstances. (time: 5:05:13 p.m.)
April 18, 2019
Icee vendor stops to repair or supply equipment in the Chevron Extra-Mile shop. A car utilizes a single passing lane to navigate past the truck. (time: 8:49:24 a.m.) Another car utilizes a single passing lane to navigate past the truck. (time: 8:49:37 a.m.) And, another car utilizes a single passing lane to navigate past the truck. (time: 9:04:57 a.m.) It’s recycling pick-up day at Chevron Extra-Mile. This pick-up typically enters via Victory Blvd. onto the alleyway. Most trash vehicles enter from Lake St. and exit onto Victory Blvd. (time: 9:23:52 a.m.) A Chevron employee maintains the trash containment area and accesses a supply area to perform her work. (time: 12:17:22 p.m.) 25 seconds later a large truck is seen approaching at the Lake St. end of the alley. (time: 12:17:47 p.m.) Two tow trucks stop briefly at night. Many large vehicles use this area at night when they can avoid the majority of daytime congestion. In the distance, alley conditions are poorly lit. (time: 8:04:49 p.m.)
It is our sincere hope that the Glendale City Council will view these photographs and consider all of their implications; from issues regarding resident inconvenience and prevention of usage, to the potential for property damage, injury, or fatality.
Please email City Council at the addresses below and let them know that measures must be taken to mitigate the cumulative traffic congestion caused by allowing hotel patrons to occupy both lanes of alley traffic. The solution to this is to require incoming hotel traffic to approach the underground parking entrance while remaining on the hotel property exclusively. The hotel driveway exit should NOT be directly across from the Chevron gas station main building. Instead, it should exit toward the alley mouth or directly onto Victory Blvd. where there is an existing apron. It should not conflict with the heavily used alley nor trash containment area which also serves as a temporary stop for many large vehicles.
Voice your opposition to PDR-1723012-B by emailing or speaking to CITY COUNCIL
