Burbank Planning Commission Meeting - September 28, 2026

The Burbank Planning Commission’s regular meeting on September 28, 2026, considered the Media District Specific Plan (MDSP) update. Staff recommended the Sustainable Infrastructure Alternative (SIA), which concentrates growth in the district’s core and ties future development to infrastructure capacity and improvements. The Commission voted 5–0 to recommend that the City Council certify the final environmental impact report and mitigation monitoring program, adopt the SIA as the preferred project and the amended specific plan, amend the General Plan and municipal code, and take related actions. A substitute motion to require development agreements for hotels in the district failed, 2–3. Staff said infrastructure improvements would generally be developed incrementally alongside projects, and noted that the City is exploring financing tools, including an enhanced infrastructure financing district, for needed capital improvements.

Public comments raised concerns about utility capacity, infrastructure costs and schedules, evacuation and neighborhood safety, housing impacts, and the timing of public access to hearing materials. Speakers also requested hotel development agreements and workforce-related production displays. Staff said hotels would remain subject to conditional use permits, a separate citywide creative-signage effort was being considered, and a citywide environmental review of SB 79 was underway. No contracts, bids, vendor selections, or procurement awards were identified; the meeting’s action was a planning recommendation to the City Council.