Design Commission To Consider Changes To Review Process To Streamline Development

The City’s Design Commission will hold a study session on the design review process as part of an effort to streamline the city’s development approval procedures. These revisions aim to make the review of construction and renovation projects more efficient, in line with Pasadena’s commitment to improving its housing development process.

The proposed amendments come as part of the city’s ongoing efforts to meet the goals outlined in the 2021-2029 Housing Element and the 2015 Land Use Element of the Pasadena General Plan. The commission meets at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 10.

According to a City staff report, one of the key updates involves revising the thresholds for when projects require Design Review. Current thresholds for new construction and major rehabilitations vary depending on the project type and location, with different standards for the Central District and areas outside it. Under the proposed changes, new construction projects in the Central District would see no changes in Design Review requirements, while outside the District, multifamily projects with fewer than 20 units would now be reviewed by the Director instead of the Design Commission.

Additionally, for major rehabilitation projects, the thresholds for Design Commission review would increase, with a focus on simplifying the review of projects that do not involve substantial changes to the building’s footprint.

This study session will emphasize the need to eliminate barriers and reduce the time required for project reviews, particularly as SB 330, California’s Housing Crisis Act, mandates quicker review timelines for residential developments.

The Design Review process has not been modified since 2009. Currently, the process includes several steps, starting with Preliminary Consultation and moving through Concept Design Review, 50% Advisory Review (rarely used since 2009) and Final Design Review. Under the proposed changes, the 50% Advisory Review would be removed, and the Preliminary Consultation step would be formalized, with a clear purpose and procedure to streamline early design feedback.

Another major change would impact multifamily residential projects, particularly those with affordable housing units. Staff recommends that projects where at least 50% of the units are designated as affordable qualify for Consolidated Design Review, a measure that combines the Concept Design and Final Design Reviews into a single step. This proposal aims to further expedite the review process for affordable housing projects.

Staff are exploring additional measures to ensure the public is better informed during the early stages of the Design Review process.

Following the study session, Pasadena’s Planning staff will present the proposed changes to the Planning Commission in early 2025, with the goal of securing approval and forwarding the recommendations to the City Council by spring 2025.