Hearing On Events, Parking at Former Ambassador College Back on Council Agenda

The City Council for a third time will attempt to hold a hearing on the fate of a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) that has allowed some events to continue being held inside the former Ambassador College campus in Pasadena.

The permit does not relate to Ambassador Auditorium, which continues unaffected by outcome of the hearing.

The hearing was canceled twice without explanation.

A city staff report recommended that the council uphold the Zoning Board of Appeal’s revocation of the CUP, which had originally allowed some public events at four locations inside the campus as well as parking in nearby areas, including Maranatha High School and Elk’s Lodge, to accommodate those events.

The CUP was originally granted in 2013 when those locations – the Merritt Mansion, Terrace Villa, Italian Garden and Fowler Garden – were owned by the same organization. But since then, three have been sold, and only one, Fowler Garden, an outdoor event space, remains under ownership of the original applicant, Pasadena Lots 70, LLC.

“It is staff’s determination that there are reasonable grounds for revocation,” the city’s staff report said.

“Based on the changed circumstances caused by the applicant, the findings contained in the original CUP can no longer be made in a positive manner and public health, safety, and welfare require the revocation. Furthermore, staff has determined that the use allowed by the CUP has become detrimental to public health, safety, and welfare, and the manner of operation is creating a public nuisance.”

Area residents, including those from homeowners of the Ambassador Gardens Community Corporation, have complained of a “significant nuisance” caused by events at Fowler Garden, and have expressed support for the revocation.