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Chamlian Gymnasium Approved By City Council

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  • Chamlian Gymnasium Approved By City Council

    CHAMLIAN GYMNASIUM APPROVED BY CITY COUNCIL
    By Cassandra Morris

    Montrose Patch
    http://montrose.patch.com/articles/chamlian-gymnasium-approved-by-city-council
    June 1 2011
    CA

    In a unanimous decision, the Glendale City Council approved the
    construction of a gymnasium at Chamlian Armenian School.

    In a unanimous decision, Glendale City Council moved to approve
    the construction of a new gymnasium at Chamlian Armenian School on
    Tuesday. This overturns the Planning Commission's denial of the gym
    in January.

    "It was a fair decision, a good decision based on evidence presented,"
    said Sarkis Ourfalian, who has two children enrolled at Chamlian and
    is on the Gym Committee. "We will do everything we can to accommodate
    our neighbors." Over 100 Chamlian parents, teachers and students in
    sports uniforms attended the hearing.

    But about 50 neighbors who attended the hearing were not pleased
    with the council's decision, and spoke up about increased traffic,
    decreased property value and the gymnasium becoming a neighborhood
    eyesore. When speakers in favor the gymnasium took the podium, many
    opponents watching from the lobby stomped their feet, rolled their
    eyes and laughed out loud.

    Others were simply emotional. "I am disappointed and shocked," said
    Joni Larson, who lives on Second Ave., which borders the school.

    Larson was upset that Councilman Weaver partially based his decision on
    the low number of parking citations around the school and complaints
    filed with the Glendale Police Department about the school in the
    past two years.

    "The neighborhood stopped complaining because nothing was being done,"
    said Larson, who described walking door to door with a petition to
    learn that neighbors who had made complaints about traffic problems
    at the school were ignored. "Neighbors made phone calls to the police
    department. No one came."

    Rodney Khan, Chamlian's project consultant, spearheaded the campaign
    to overturn the Planning Commission's decision. "We're really excited
    about the outcome," Khan said. "One of the challenges we faced was
    people questioning what our real motive was. It was transparent. The
    gym is for kids to exercise in. There is no other agenda."

    Chamlian Principal Vazken Madenlian said that fundraising efforts
    will now begin for the gym.

    Read some of the comments the City Council heard at the hearing
    last night.

    The gymnasium construction has caused controversy because of the
    increased traffic commuter students bring to surrounding roads and
    because the school has already maxed out its Floor Area Ratio. The
    school sits on 4.59 acres with buildings that take up 45,141 square
    feet. The gymnasium will bring the school to 54,486 square feet of
    floor area. The school is located in an R1 residential zone which
    allows 22,994 square feet of floor area for a lot of its size.

    In addition, the max height for buildings in Chamlian's zone is
    25 feet, and the proposed gymnasium would be 35 feet, though Khan
    said that the gym could be constructed at 30 feet. The school has
    also been allowed to operate without the required minimum number of
    parking spaces since the late 1980s.

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