Glendale council approves $199,580 amendment to update land use, circulation elements and add environmental justice element

The Glendale City Council approved a contract amendment Jan. 30 to expand work on the city’s long-range planning update, including preparation of a new environmental justice element required by state law.

The council approved an amendment to the city’s contract with De Novo Planning Group to add preparation of an environmental justice element to the land use and circulation element updates, extend the project timeline by 18 months and increase the contract by $199,580 for a new not-to-exceed total of $1,081,309. The motion to approve the two related items (A and B on the special meeting agenda) carried on the roll call (yes 4, no 1).

Amanda Tropeano, principal with De Novo Planning Group, told the council the city’s land use element was last comprehensively updated in 1986 and the circulation element in the late 1990s, making the updates a multi-decade refresh. “It is time for it to be refreshed and have a comprehensive look, setting the stage for development over the next 20 years,” Tropeano said.

Tropeano outlined goals for the land use update: simplify and clarify land-use definitions, align the…