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Council adopts mitigated negative declaration for Glendale'Los Angeles Garden River Bridge after preservation concerns
Summary
The council approved a mitigated negative declaration and mitigation monitoring program for the Glendale/Los Angeles Garden River Bridge project after public commenters urged further historic-architecture review; staff said Army Corps permitting and 75% design drawings satisfied the required cultural-resources review.
The Glendale City Council voted June 9 to adopt a mitigated negative declaration and a mitigation monitoring and reporting program for the Glendale-Los Angeles Garden River Bridge project.
Councilmember Dan Brotman raised a concern that a staff report and community comments referenced a qualified historic architect review and that the mitigation measures list did not explicitly cite that item. He asked that any commitment to historic-architect review be clearly reflected so the council can ensure follow-through.
Staff and the city attorney explained that cultural-resources review was conducted in coordination with the Army Corps of Engineers (the responsible agency for 404/408 permitting) and that an architectural historian had reviewed the project and concluded there were no significant impacts to a potential National Register resource in the project footprint. Staff said additional design details would be provided as part of the bid package and that the plans submitted for Army Corps review included sufficient detail for SEQUA purposes.
A caller identified as Francesca Smith, who described nearly 40 years of reviewing alterations to bridges in historic settings, urged the council to involve the Historic Preservation Commission and recommended that the commission's findings be recorded before final design approvals so that the record reflects a full review. She said the technical reports contained renderings but not final plans, and she urged a mitigation measure requiring review "because it gives an opportunity for any kind of bridge" if final dimensions and materials are not specified.
Staff responded that the Army Corps routinely reviews project plans as a responsible agency and that the project had been reviewed by an architectural historian with a finding of no significant impact. Council approved the recommendation and voted to adopt the mitigated negative declaration on roll call.
What happens next: Staff said final design details will appear in the bid package and responsible-agency reviews will proceed as part of required permitting. Councilmembers asked that staff ensure the record reflects any commitments to historic-architect review so that mitigation steps are tracked.
