Design Commission Praises Proposed Updated Objective Design Standards, Sends Guidelines Toward City Council Review

During the Design Commission’s meeting on October 14, Pasadena’s newly updated proposed objective design standards drew strong support and praise from commissioners. Members noted the standards had received unanimous Planning Commission approval earlier in the month and are set for City Council consideration on November 24.

Chair Julianna Delgado commended staff’s effort, telling City of Pasadena Principal Planner Kevin Johnson, “I don’t know how you have the time to do something like that, but I think we should take all the funds that we were going to use to pay the consultant and let you at least have a good vacation. It was really brilliant … a brilliant job. And I think that PowerPoint is still probably online, if you want to take, really look at it. It was an amazing document.” She added, “Everyone was very happy about that.”

Commissioners referenced the developing standards while discussing a mixed-use project to illustrate how the rules could apply. One member remarked, “I mean if we’re going to be applying objective design standards, it would probably look like this building.”

Staff said final calibrations are underway and highlighted lessons from recent reviews, including how façade modulation and material detailing can add visual interest without excessive complexity. Commissioners also discussed how such objective criteria could guide elements like modulation, balcony treatments, and ground-floor materials in future submittals.

With Planning Commission approval and the Design Commission’s supportive discussion on October 14, the proposal moves to the Pasadena City Council on November 24 for consideration. If adopted, the standards will establish clear, objective criteria for future housing and mixed-use proposals while reflecting the city’s design expectations as discussed in recent commission deliberations.