City Council Upholds Board of Zoning Appeals’ Decision That Plans for South Catalina Avenue Project Were Incomplete

The Pasadena City Council unanimously upheld the Board of Zoning Appeals’ (BZA) determination that an application for Concept Design Review for a multi-family project located at 615 South Catalina Ave. is incomplete for processing.

The project includes a new 7-story building, with 49 residential dwelling units.

In March 2024, the applicant submitted a Concept Design Review application for the project.

Staff reviewed the application for completeness against the required submittal checklist for Concept Design Review and found that the application is incomplete as the required items from the checklist were not provided.

What was missing were the design evolution information, the application for a Zoning Map amendment or a Variance, as well as payment required to review and process the Concept Design Review application.

On May 16, the BZA heard the appeal and upheld the determination that the Concept Design Review application is incomplete.

The applicant assailed the BZA’s decision, stating that the City violated SB 330, the Housing Accountability Act, the Permit Streamlining Act, and other laws in finding the application incomplete.

“Tonight is not at all about the merits of the project. Tonight is not all about how we as a City feel about housing or building housing,” said Councilmember Jason Lyon.

Lyon added that there is a process in place in the City and the application was not compliant with the process.

Mayor Victor Gordo likewise stressed that the issue is about the completeness of the application and not housing.

“In Pasadena, we have a lot to be proud of when it comes to affordable housing. In 2023 alone, we approved 1,247 units of housing 324 of those units are in the affordable range. That’s a lot more than any City of comparable size that I can think of so we’re definitely doing our part.”

“We are definitely doing our part for anyone to think or suggest we are not ignoring the plain facts,” he continued.

City staff said the City will continue to process the Concept Design Review application for the project if the required materials will be submitted.

To date, the application fees were paid but the two other items have not been submitted.

“The City has not refused to process any application and will continue to process the applications when they submit the required materials,” said Planning and Community Development Director Jennifer Paige.