Planning Commission Meeting Will Zero in On Pasadena’s Central District Specific Plan Wednesday

The Pasadena Planning Commission is scheduled to convene on Wednesday to discuss the upcoming update to the Central District Specific Plan (CDSP). 

The meeting, which will take place in the Council Chambers at City Hall, will provide an opportunity for the commission and the public to offer feedback on the proposed changes.

The CDSP update is part of the ongoing General Plan Implementation Program, aimed at refining the vision, goals, policies, and permitted uses within the city’s districts. As the fourth specific plan to be updated under this program, the CDSP includes proposed amendments to the General Plan Map, Specific Plan, and the Zoning Code Map and Text.

The proposed CDSP envisions various changes from the previous plan, such as a redistribution of residential density along Lake Avenue and a reduction of density along Colorado Boulevard. 

Additionally, there are plans to lower building heights along Walnut and Union streets from 63 feet to 51 feet. Other modifications involve ground floor frontages, design standards, sidewalk width, building setbacks, and street trees.

Notably, the latest draft aims to simplify building height allowances by reducing the number of districts from over ten to six. Under the proposed plan, the tallest structures would be permitted near the Metro Del Mar and Lake Stations, located along Colorado Boulevard. Building heights would gradually decrease towards Cordova Street and Raymond Avenue.

While the discussion is forb information only and no final decisions will be made during this meeting, the Planning Commission has announced that a separate public hearing will be held in the future. 

During the public hearing, the commission will deliberate on whether to recommend or modify the proposed plan before presenting it to the City Council. In the meantime, residents are encouraged to access the plan online and actively participate in the public comment period.

The documentation related to the proposed CDSP update can be viewed at www.ourpasadena.org/CDSP-PC-HR-062823. 

The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Pasadena City Hall, located at 100 North Garfield Avenue, Room S249.

Livestream with captioning is available at  www.pasadenamedia.org, and also at  www.cityofpasadena.net/commissions/agendas/