Pasadena Hearing Officer to Review Home Addition Variances, Condo Project

The City of Pasadena’s Hearing Officer will convene next Wednesday to consider three development proposals, including a home expansion that requests significant variances from city building codes.

The meeting, scheduled for April 2 at 6:00 p.m. in the Permit Center Hearing Room at 175 North Garfield Avenue, will begin with a reading of procedures followed by public hearings. Hearing Officer meetings are regularly held on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month.

The first item involves a minor variance request for a property at 464 MacDonald Street in Council District 1. The property owner is seeking approval to construct a 432 square-foot two-story addition and a 72 square-foot one-story addition to an existing 1,000 square-foot single-family residence.

The MacDonald Street proposal requires two variances: one to allow a rear yard setback of just 7 feet 7 inches (where 25 feet is normally required) and another to permit a second-story top plate height of 22 feet 5 inches (exceeding the 20-foot maximum). City staff has recommended approval of both variances, finding the project exempt from California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review under Section 15301 (Class 1, Existing Facilities). Alison Walker is the case manager for this project.

In a more substantial case, the Hearing Officer will review a Tentative Tract Map application for 1105 East Villa Street in Council District 5. The proposal seeks to consolidate five separate land parcels (APNs: 5732-010-024, -044, -045, -046, & -047) into one 30,096 square-foot lot and create 22 air parcels for residential condominiums. The site is zoned for multi-family residential use within the City Gardens overlay district, allowing up to 32 dwelling units per acre. Staff has recommended approval with conditions, citing the project’s exemption from CEQA as an in-fill development under Section 15332 (Class 32). Patrick Smith serves as the case manager.

The final item involves a Hillside Development Permit for 200 Los Altos Drive in Council District 6. The applicant proposes a 2,835 square-foot one-story addition to an existing 2,606 square-foot residence, plus a new 1,722 square-foot attached garage below the residence. The project would transform the home into a two-story structure with 5,441 square feet on the top floor and also includes plans for a new 354 square-foot detached cabana. The permit is required because the addition exceeds 500 square feet within the hillside overlay zone. Staff has recommended approval with conditions, finding the project exempt from CEQA under Section 15301 (Class 1, Existing Facilities). Katherine Moran is managing this case.

Pasadena residents wishing to participate can attend in person or review meeting materials on the city website at www.cityofpasadena.net/commissions/hearing-officer/. The agenda is also posted at City Hall’s bulletin board S249, in the rotunda area, and at the Hale Building, 175 N. Garfield Avenue.

Those requiring accessibility accommodations or language translation services should contact the Planning and Community Development Department at (626) 744-7479 or email amartinez@cityofpasadena.net at least 72 hours before the meeting. Spanish interpretation services are available by calling the same number with at least 24 hours advance notice (“Habrá servicio de interpretación disponible para éstas juntas llamando (626) 744-7479 al por lo menos con 24 horas de anticipación”).

The agenda was officially posted by Beilin Yu, Zoning Administrator, and Antonia Martinez, Recording Secretary, on March 28, 2025.