Plans for North Fair Oaks, Orange Grove Corridors Go Before Council Tuesday

A proposal to allow more housing along North Fair Oaks Avenue while recognizing the area’s Black and Latino heritage, including Mack and Jackie Robinson, will go before the City Council Tuesday.

The Fair Oaks Orange Grove Specific Plan would replace a plan adopted in 2002.

It covers North Fair Oaks Avenue between Montana and Maple streets and Orange Grove Boulevard between Lincoln and Oakland avenues. The proposal sets rules for land use and future development and calls for wider sidewalks, street trees, public art and safer crossings.

One proposed subarea, the Black Legacy District, would honor Northwest Pasadena’s Black history through public art, signs and gathering places while supporting locally owned businesses. Two other districts, Robles and Arboleda, take Spanish names that reflect the area’s Latino heritage and trees.

A fourth, the Robinson District, honors legendary Pasadena residents Mack and Jackie Robinson.

Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball. His older brother Mack also made history in the Berlin Olympics coming in second place to Jesse Owens in the 200 meters in the 1936 Olympics destroying Adolf Hitler’s claims of Aryan superiority.

The plan would allow up to 48 homes per acre along Fair Oaks north of Claremont Street, including at the southeast corner of Fair Oaks and Washington Boulevard.

City planners say the higher density could create more housing opportunities, including affordable housing. The plan also calls for storefront designs that engage pedestrians, rather than long stretches of blank walls.

The Planning Commission recommended approval on a 7-0 vote in April, with eight suggested changes. City staff incorporated most of them, including moving public art and decorative crosswalks into a nearer-term category of zero to five years. East Penn Street and North Fair Oaks Avenue was added as a possible crosswalk location.

One disagreement remains. Commissioners recommended allowing new small-scale industrial businesses throughout the plan area without a special permit. City planners propose allowing them without a permit in commercial-flex zones but requiring a minor conditional use permit in areas where housing would be allowed. Staff say the review could address potential conflicts with residents. Existing businesses could continue operating; expansions would require a permit.

The plan draws on two community proposals, including one that called for revitalizing North Fair Oaks while protecting longtime businesses and residents from displacement.

Its other proposed actions include studying bus shelters and transit service, exploring a community-led business association and developing a streetscape plan. Those steps would require further work; adopting the plan would not build the improvements.

Council approval would also amend the city’s General Plan land-use map and direct the city attorney to prepare zoning changes within 120 days.