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CHAMLIAN GYMNASIUM APPROVED BY CITY COUNCIL
By Cassandra Morris
Montrose Patch
http://montrose.patch.com/articles/chamlian-gymnasium-approved-by-city-council
June 1 2011
CA
In a unanimous decision, the Glendale City Council approved the
construction of a gymnasium at Chamlian Armenian School.
In a unanimous decision, Glendale City Council moved to approve
the construction of a new gymnasium at Chamlian Armenian School on
Tuesday. This overturns the Planning Commission's denial of the gym
in January.
"It was a fair decision, a good decision based on evidence presented,"
said Sarkis Ourfalian, who has two children enrolled at Chamlian and
is on the Gym Committee. "We will do everything we can to accommodate
our neighbors." Over 100 Chamlian parents, teachers and students in
sports uniforms attended the hearing.
But about 50 neighbors who attended the hearing were not pleased
with the council's decision, and spoke up about increased traffic,
decreased property value and the gymnasium becoming a neighborhood
eyesore. When speakers in favor the gymnasium took the podium, many
opponents watching from the lobby stomped their feet, rolled their
eyes and laughed out loud.
Others were simply emotional. "I am disappointed and shocked," said
Joni Larson, who lives on Second Ave., which borders the school.
Larson was upset that Councilman Weaver partially based his decision on
the low number of parking citations around the school and complaints
filed with the Glendale Police Department about the school in the
past two years.
"The neighborhood stopped complaining because nothing was being done,"
said Larson, who described walking door to door with a petition to
learn that neighbors who had made complaints about traffic problems
at the school were ignored. "Neighbors made phone calls to the police
department. No one came."
Rodney Khan, Chamlian's project consultant, spearheaded the campaign
to overturn the Planning Commission's decision. "We're really excited
about the outcome," Khan said. "One of the challenges we faced was
people questioning what our real motive was. It was transparent. The
gym is for kids to exercise in. There is no other agenda."
Chamlian Principal Vazken Madenlian said that fundraising efforts
will now begin for the gym.
Read some of the comments the City Council heard at the hearing
last night.
The gymnasium construction has caused controversy because of the
increased traffic commuter students bring to surrounding roads and
because the school has already maxed out its Floor Area Ratio. The
school sits on 4.59 acres with buildings that take up 45,141 square
feet. The gymnasium will bring the school to 54,486 square feet of
floor area. The school is located in an R1 residential zone which
allows 22,994 square feet of floor area for a lot of its size.
In addition, the max height for buildings in Chamlian's zone is
25 feet, and the proposed gymnasium would be 35 feet, though Khan
said that the gym could be constructed at 30 feet. The school has
also been allowed to operate without the required minimum number of
parking spaces since the late 1980s.
By Cassandra Morris
Montrose Patch
http://montrose.patch.com/articles/chamlian-gymnasium-approved-by-city-council
June 1 2011
CA
In a unanimous decision, the Glendale City Council approved the
construction of a gymnasium at Chamlian Armenian School.
In a unanimous decision, Glendale City Council moved to approve
the construction of a new gymnasium at Chamlian Armenian School on
Tuesday. This overturns the Planning Commission's denial of the gym
in January.
"It was a fair decision, a good decision based on evidence presented,"
said Sarkis Ourfalian, who has two children enrolled at Chamlian and
is on the Gym Committee. "We will do everything we can to accommodate
our neighbors." Over 100 Chamlian parents, teachers and students in
sports uniforms attended the hearing.
But about 50 neighbors who attended the hearing were not pleased
with the council's decision, and spoke up about increased traffic,
decreased property value and the gymnasium becoming a neighborhood
eyesore. When speakers in favor the gymnasium took the podium, many
opponents watching from the lobby stomped their feet, rolled their
eyes and laughed out loud.
Others were simply emotional. "I am disappointed and shocked," said
Joni Larson, who lives on Second Ave., which borders the school.
Larson was upset that Councilman Weaver partially based his decision on
the low number of parking citations around the school and complaints
filed with the Glendale Police Department about the school in the
past two years.
"The neighborhood stopped complaining because nothing was being done,"
said Larson, who described walking door to door with a petition to
learn that neighbors who had made complaints about traffic problems
at the school were ignored. "Neighbors made phone calls to the police
department. No one came."
Rodney Khan, Chamlian's project consultant, spearheaded the campaign
to overturn the Planning Commission's decision. "We're really excited
about the outcome," Khan said. "One of the challenges we faced was
people questioning what our real motive was. It was transparent. The
gym is for kids to exercise in. There is no other agenda."
Chamlian Principal Vazken Madenlian said that fundraising efforts
will now begin for the gym.
Read some of the comments the City Council heard at the hearing
last night.
The gymnasium construction has caused controversy because of the
increased traffic commuter students bring to surrounding roads and
because the school has already maxed out its Floor Area Ratio. The
school sits on 4.59 acres with buildings that take up 45,141 square
feet. The gymnasium will bring the school to 54,486 square feet of
floor area. The school is located in an R1 residential zone which
allows 22,994 square feet of floor area for a lot of its size.
In addition, the max height for buildings in Chamlian's zone is
25 feet, and the proposed gymnasium would be 35 feet, though Khan
said that the gym could be constructed at 30 feet. The school has
also been allowed to operate without the required minimum number of
parking spaces since the late 1980s.