Design Review Board approves five‑level Subaru dealership at 1308 S. Brand Blvd.; board adds paving and column‑treatment conditions

The Glendale Design Review Board approved a proposed five‑level automobile dealership building for the Subaru dealer at 1308 South Brand Boulevard on Jan. 23 with several board‑directed conditions and design considerations.

Project scope and staff recommendation: Staff described the project as a roughly 100,011‑square‑foot, five‑level building that will include showroom and sales areas, parts storage, service bays and two roof levels for parking with solar equipment on top. The application includes demolition of the existing 12,000‑square‑foot dealership building and an adjacent ~6,200‑square‑foot commercial building. Staff noted the project is exempt from CEQA under the Class 32 infill exemption and called out prior administrative approval (AV‑2097) allowing a parking reduction for the site. Staff recommended approval with two conditions and two considerations: (1) decorative paving within the first 20 feet of the automobile entrance/exit driveway on Cypress Street, and (2) ensure material changes break at inside corners; and as considerations, substituting a Brisbane box tree for a proposed palm on Cypress and adding decorative paving at the pedestrian Brand Boulevard entrance.

Public comment and applicant response: A nearby resident, Angelique, spoke by phone to describe her household’s long residence next to the small building slated for demolition and called the existing brick building “a beautiful building” with sentimental value; she expressed concern about losing housing and local small business presence. Dealer representative Daniel Archadi acknowledged the hardship, explaining the dealer had to comply with manufacturer program requirements (including minimum program area and other standards) and said the barbershop tenant will relocate by the end of May. Architect Bill James described the design constraints from corporate branding and said the façade strategy uses a mix of storefront glazing, Alucobond/brand panels and translucent (obscure) glass to reduce the visual mass and provide daylight to service areas.

Board deliberations and conditions: Board members said dealerships are operationally constrained by manufacturer standards but judged the massing, material palette and service‑area screening appropriate. Several members suggested refinements: consider round columns on the upper level to lighten the composition and ensure the service level uses translucent glass to minimize visual bulk and control noise. The board added staff’s two conditions and elevated the pedestrian decorative paving recommendation to a condition; the board also requested that material changes terminate at inside corners. The vote to approve carried unanimously (three yes votes).

Neighborhood note and follow up: The board and applicant acknowledged neighborhood concern over the demolition of the small brick building and the retail tenant’s relocation; the applicant said the tenant is moving. Staff will finalize plan details to ensure required decorative paving, corner material terminations, and other conditioned items are shown prior to permit issuance.