A.
Intent and Purpose. Primary ridgelines are the highest undeveloped and visually dominant ridgelines in a viewshed, recognized by the continuous horizon line formed against the sky. The primary ridgelines are an exhaustible and precious scenic resource of the city and its citizens worthy of preservation for the welfare of all the citizens of Glendale. As the hillsides of Glendale continue to be developed, proper planning is necessary to protect primary ridgelines from grading activities.
B.
Applicability. Tentative tract and parcel maps, building plans, and grading plans for any property with primary ridgelines within its boundaries shall include provisions for the complete preservation of such primary ridgeline areas in their natural state.
C.
Primary Ridgelines Area Defined. A primary ridgeline area shall be any ridgeline in the city so designated as "primary ridges"1 on Sheet Nos. OC, OD, 1C, 1D, 2C, 3C, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 5B, 5C, 5D, 6B, 6C, 6D, 6E, 6F, 7B, 7C, 7D, 7E, 7F, 8B, 8C, 8D, BE, 8F, 8G, 9D, 9E, 9F, 9G, 10E, 10F and 10G of the Glendale, Los Angeles County, California, metropolitan area 200 scale topographic maps which are attached to the ordinance codified in this title, incorporated herein and by this reference made a part hereof.
D.
Prohibitions. No grading, engineered slopes, housing construction, streets, utilities or other manmade features shall be permitted within identified primary ridgeline areas.
E.
Exceptions. It is recognized that from time to time, it may be necessary for improved public street access or fire protection vehicle access to be taken across identified primary ridges to promote the public health, safety and general welfare, to insure adequate traffic circulation, and to provide appropriate ingress and egress for emergencies. In such cases, the city council/planning commission may declare a need for a public street crossing a primary ridge, and all grading and improvement plans for such public street, including necessary accessory engineered slopes and utility extensions underneath the street, or fire road shall be subject to the approval of the city council/planning commission. Such declaration of need shall be made at a duly noticed and conducted public hearing and the city council/planning commission shall make supportive written findings that each of the following exists:
1.
The location of the public street or fire road is proper in relation to adjacent uses, the development of the community and to the various elements and objectives of the general plan.
2.
The public street or fire road will not be materially detrimental to the character of the neighborhood nor will it endanger the public health, safety and general welfare.
3.
It has been demonstrated that the public street or fire road will improve and enhance traffic circulation in a manner advantageous to the public convenience and welfare, or that the fire road will improve hillside fire protection access to an area.
4.
The establishment of the proposed public street or fire road will not impede the normal and orderly development and improvement of surrounding property for permitted uses.
5.
The appearance of the proposed public street or fire road will not be so at variance with the appearance of adjoining ridgeline areas as to cause substantial depreciation of ridgeline appearance in the vicinity.
6.
Adequate drainage devices, landscaping and other necessary appurtenances will be provided to city standards.
7.
Alternative designs for street access have been evaluated and examined and have been determined to be infeasible.
F.
Clustering of Development into Nonprohibited Areas. Where protection of environmental resources pursuant to subsection D of this section necessitates preserving portions of a parcel in an undeveloped state, the city shall permit a density transfer for those dwelling units that otherwise would be allowable pursuant to Chapter 30.11 of this code onto less sensitive portions of the parcel.
G.
Utilities. Nothing in this section shall prohibit the maintenance, upgrading or improvement of existing public or quasi-public utilities which traverse identified primary ridges.
H.
Transmission Facilities. Radio wave transmission facilities which have obtained a conditional use permit under the provisions of Title 30 of this code shall be permitted within primary ridgeline areas.
I.
Corrective Work. Nothing in this section shall prohibit the city council/planning commission from authorizing grading deemed necessary to correct existing natural hazardous conditions that are brought to the city's attention.
(Ord. 5683 § 2, 2009)



