Glendale hearing officer takes under submission request to legalize large retaining wall at 3411 E. Chevy Chase Drive

The City of Glendale Planning Hearing Officer on July 9 took under submission a request by the property owner to legalize an existing unpermitted retaining wall, a non-retaining wall/fence above it and an approximately 8-to-9-foot driveway gate that sit within the 15-foot street-front setback at 3411 East Chevy Chase Drive.

The case (PVARDash004061Dash2024) was presented to Hearing Officer Cassandra Pruitt, who said she would consider the record and issue a written decision. The hearing officer closed the public hearing after testimony and stated, “The information will be considered along with the case file documentation, and the case will now be taken under submission.” That decision letter will be mailed to the applicant and to people who provided contact information; any appeal to the Planning Commission must be filed within 15 days of the decision date, per Glendale Municipal Code Title 30, Chapter 30.62.

The variance application seeks to legalize an existing retaining wall that staff measured as varying roughly 3 to 6 feet in the retaining portion, topped by a non-retaining wall/fence of about 4 to 6 feet (combined portions reported during the hearing to reach about 12 feet in places), and an approximately 8-to-9-foot driveway gate. The 16,480-square-foot lot contains a one-story, 1,988-square-foot house with a 519-square-foot attached garage; the structures in question are located within the required 15-foot street-front setback in the Chevy Chase Canyon area.

Case planner (City of Glendale planning staff) told the hearing that staff had reviewed department comments and recommended approval with…