Burbank to Weigh New Media District Development Plan
Owners and developers will face updated zoning, parking, and density requirements under the proposed 2035 long-range framework.
Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in Remote Work
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The Burbank City Council will hold a public hearing on November 10, 2026, to discuss an updated long-range planning framework for the 544-acre Media District. This plan aims to balance future economic growth and studio expansion with updated housing, transit, and parking policies through 2035.
Why it matters
The proposed framework seeks to modernize land-use regulations in a major Southern California employment hub that currently experiences peak-hour traffic congestion at critical intersections. Aligning local policy with state mandates and the Burbank2035 General Plan creates a new regulatory baseline for commercial developers and residential property owners.
The plan covers a 544-acre core and generates $119,900 in net positive revenue for the city per 100 new housing units. This development framework follows traffic volume counts collected through 2024, identifying multiple intersections currently operating at Levels of Service E and F.
The players
Burbank City Council
The local governing body responsible for zoning and infrastructure policy in a major Southern California media hub.
The details
The update utilizes traffic volume data collected in November 2023 and late 2024 to evaluate capacity at key arterial intersections like Clybourn Avenue and Riverside Drive. The framework integrates state mandates, such as Assembly Bill 1317, which requires unbundling parking costs from rent for properties with 16 or more units. Beyond residential shifts, the program targets the buildout of 350,000 square feet of studio space while managing a target reduction of 7,334 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent.
Timeline
1991: Original Media District Specific Plan enacted.
November 2023: Baseline traffic volume counts collected.
September/October 2024: Supplemental intersection traffic counts collected.
January 1, 2025: Mandatory unbundling of parking costs from rent.
November 10, 2026: City Council public hearing on plan update.
Market Landscape
The proposed changes represent a refinement of the city's development strategy relative to the Burbank2035 General Plan. This update aligns local zoning and infrastructure management with existing state-level mandates regarding housing costs and density.
Commercial developers and multi-family operators should review the new parking and density guidelines, as these will define development feasibility in the district through 2035. Proponents and opponents of the plan should prepare for the November 10, 2026, public hearing to ensure their operational interests are represented.
The takeaway
Operators should monitor the intersection Level of Service performance metrics, which directly influence future infrastructure impact fees and permit conditions. Ensure your legal counsel has audited all residential leases for 16-plus unit properties to confirm compliance with the parking cost unbundling mandates in effect since January 2025.
Further reading
For more on evolving office requirements, read our coverage on Remote Work.
Source note: This article includes information reported by MyBurbank.
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