A homeowner in Council District 4 whose house burned in the Eaton Fire is asking the city for permission to rebuild with the same front setback his destroyed home had, setting up a ‘test case’ for how Pasadena will handle fire rebuilds that don’t qualify for streamlined approval.
The owner, Bedros Darkjian, wants to construct a 2,627-square-foot, two-story home at 3860 Startouch Drive to replace the 1,869-square-foot single-story dwelling destroyed in the January 2025 blaze. The catch: He needs a variance to place the house 20 feet from the street instead of the required 25 feet.
City planners will recommend approval when the case goes before the Hearing Officer on Wednesday. But the request highlights tensions between expediting fire recovery and maintaining hillside development standards in Upper Hastings Ranch.
The city adopted emergency Ordinance No. 7444 in March 2025 to let fire victims rebuild without land-use permits if they meet specific criteria. Darkjian’s project doesn’t qualify because the proposed home is 40% larger than the original and adds a second story.
That means full review under hillside rules designed to protect views, environmental resources and neighborhood character.
In the Planning Department’s report, staff planner Joseph Weaver wrote he found “exceptional circumstances” justifying the setback variance. Before the fire, all 11 homes on the south side of Startouch Drive sat less than 25 feet from the street. The previous house on Darkjian’s lot was exactly 20 feet back.
The five remaining homes average just 18 feet. Requiring the new house to sit farther back would create inconsistencies on the blockface, planners argue.
“The granting of the Minor Variance would facilitate a reasonable enjoyment of real property,” the staff report said. The 20-foot setback “would allow the dwelling to be located in generally the same location as the dwelling that had existed.”
The project also includes a 609-square-foot accessory dwelling unit on the second floor and a 406-square-foot two-car garage. A 466-square-foot deck would extend from the rear.
Planning staff determined the design complies with other hillside standards for the RS-6-HD-1 zone. The home’s 24-foot, 5-inch height stays under the 25-foot limit. Floor area and lot coverage meet requirements.
The second story must sit five feet farther back than the first floor under hillside rules. At 26 feet from the street, it exceeds that standard.
Planners say the stucco exterior, concrete tile roof and black window trim match neighborhood character. Two-story homes existed on Startouch Drive and nearby streets before the fire.
The Eaton Fire destroyed 185 structures in Pasadena, most in Upper Hastings Ranch and neighboring hillside areas. The city’s rebuild ordinance remains in effect through March 2027 after the council extended it last May.
A geotechnical report from Cal Land Engineering found the site suitable for development. No active earthquake faults run through the property. Two existing trees will remain; neither is protected under city ordinance.
The hearing starts around 6 p.m. Wednesday in Room S038 at City Hall.
If approved, the owner must obtain building permits within 36 months or the approval expires.
The case illustrates how Pasadena will weigh competing priorities as fire victims rebuild. Some want flexibility to improve on what burned. Others worry loosened standards could alter hillside neighborhoods permanently.
For now, planners say one variance for a pre-fire setback won’t harm the area. Whether that approach holds for dozens of rebuilds remains to be seen.
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