Hearing officer takes Maize restaurant parking and alcohol permit requests under submission after staff recommends conditions

The Planning Hearing Officer took under submission applications from Maize, a proposed full‑service restaurant at 723 Sonora Avenue, after staff recommended approval with conditions for a parking reduction permit and an administrative use permit allowing on‑site sale, service and consumption of alcoholic beverages.

Staff said the applicant seeks to convert a 12,208‑square‑foot warehouse into a full‑service restaurant without providing the roughly 110 additional off‑street parking spaces the Glendale Municipal Code would normally require. Cassandra Pruitt, the case planner, told the hearing that the applicant’s parking study identified about 70 on‑street spaces within walking distance, and the site currently provides four on‑site parking spaces.

Pruitt, Case Planner, Community Development, said the project is exempt from CEQA as an existing facility and that staff’s recommended findings for a parking reduction permit and for the administrative use permit could be met once conditions are attached. Pruitt summarized city comments that were incorporated into the staff report, including standard building and accessibility requirements and a list of recommended conditions addressing operation, alley access and noise.

Rodney Khan, the applicant’s representative, described the proposal as a family‑style, full‑service restaurant called Maize that would serve beer, wine and distilled spirits and operate roughly 11 a.m.–2 p.m. for lunch and 6 p.m.–2 a.m. for dinner. Khan told the hearing the applicant will accept the recommended conditions and that the business expects some patrons to walk from nearby employers and that ride‑share and delivery services will reduce parking demand.

Traffic and parking analysis presented by the applicant’s traffic engineer concluded on‑street parking capacity within about a quarter‑mile could accommodate the restaurant during anticipated peak hours, and that the project’s vehicle‑miles‑traveled (VMT) and intersection analyses did not identify significant impacts. Public Works traffic staff asked that the city monitor left‑turn movements into the site and reserve the authority to require a “no left turn” sign if negative impacts are subsequently observed. Staff also noted that a valet operation would require a separate valet permit and that, if off‑street parking is later found to be insufficient, the applicant would be required to obtain off‑site spaces.

The police department comment in the record notes that the subject census tract has a suggested limit of six on‑sale alcohol establishments but currently has 14 and that crime rates in the census tract are about 20% above the citywide average; the police department recommended standard conditions aimed at minimizing alcohol‑related problems.

Staff and the applicant emphasized operational conditions that would be enforced if the permits are granted: the use must remain a full‑service restaurant (not a banquet hall), hours will be limited to those analyzed in the parking study, any street valet operation must obtain an annual valet permit, and the city will require a follow‑up traffic study six months after opening; if that study shows negative street‑parking impacts, off‑street parking must be provided. The project team also noted that any live entertainment or dancing would require separate permits.

Hearing Officer Roger Kiesel closed the public hearing and said he would take the case under submission for a written decision to follow. The record includes no final action at the hearing; the decision will be issued in writing and mailed to the applicant and interested parties. The staff report and posted conditions explain the appeals process under Title 30, Chapter 30.62 of the Glendale Municipal Code.

— Cassandra Pruitt, Case Planner, Community Development; Rodney Khan, Applicant representative; Mr. Baghdaniyan, traffic engineer; Roger Kiesel, Hearing Officer