DISNEY IMAGINEERING SITE APPROVED.

Byline: Jennifer Hamm Staff Writer

GLENDALE - City officials on Wednesday approved Walt Disney Co.'s Grand Central Creative Campus, a development project some hope will energize an industrial area in town.

The City Council and Redevelopment Agency held a joint meeting to consider the project that could bring $402 million in new revenue over the next three decades.

``It's a win-win every which way you look,'' said City Councilman Sheldon Baker. ``It is a dream come true for this city.''

Some have said the development in the San Fernando Road corridor redevelopment zone will mean more traffic congestion and air pollution. The environmental impact report found the project would have unavoidable and significant effects on air, noise and traffic, most of which will occur during construction.

But the comments at the nearly three-hour meeting were largely positive as council members and residents spoke enthusiastically about the project.

``You cannot measure the true benefits of this project. You can only imagine,'' said Mayor David Weaver. ``To see something like this come along, it happens once in a lifetime, if you're lucky.''

Along with the new revenue, the project is expected to generate as many as 7,000 jobs during the next 30 years. City officials are also hopeful it will bring new life to the industrial area in the northeastern part of the city.

The Grand Central Creative Campus, also called GC3, would include 6 million square feet of office space, sound stages and studio production facilities to house Walt Disney Imagineering. It is planned on 125 acres bordered by Western Avenue, the Golden State Freeway, Air Way and Flower Street.

Lush landscapings would help create a college campus-like feel that would also integrate an aeronautical theme. The property was the site of Los Angeles' first airport.