Planning Commission to Consider Renewal of Controversial Development Plan in East Pasadena

The Pasadena Planning Commission is set to review a request for the renewal of a Planned Development (PD) Plan for a controversial housing project at 3200 E. Foothill Blvd., a site previously used by the Navy for weapon testing.

Developers propose a 500-unit residential project that includes eight mixed-use buildings, both subterranean and above-ground parking, and 9,800 square feet of retail and restaurant space. The project has faced significant opposition due to concerns about harmful chemicals potentially present in the land beneath the site.

Originally approved by the City Council in 2018, the PD Plan was set to expire two years later unless construction began. The project faced opposition from local officials, including Councilmember Gene Masuda, Councilmember Tyron Hampton, and then-Councilmember, now Mayor, Victor Gordo.

In March 2020, the City Council authorized an automatic 24-month extension of the PD Plan expiration date due to the COVID-19 pandemic, pushing the deadline to summer 2022. The plan was subsequently renewed until this year.

The site, currently home to a Space Bank Mini-Storage facility, was operated by the Naval Information Research Foundation from 1940 to 1978, during which time the Navy conducted testing involving classified materials and weapons, according to a report from the California Department of Toxic Substances Control.

The latest renewal request cites economic hardship and difficulties in securing construction financing as reasons for the delays. The original buyer, Pasadena Gateway, LLC, could not proceed with the project, prompting S&O Properties to seek a new buyer.

“Extending the PD Plan will allow the applicant the necessary time to identify a new buyer and complete the required City processes for development,” according to a City staff report contained in Wednesday’s agenda. The renewal request does not propose any changes to the existing project, and any future modifications would require additional public hearings.

In response to safety concerns, the developers have stated they will test for royal demolition explosives (RDX) and trinitrotoluene (TNT) at the site. The Environmental Protection Agency has classified RDX as a possible human carcinogen, with serious health risks associated with exposure. TNT is known to cause birth defects and other health issues, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

The project has received approval from the California Department of Toxic Substances Control for a Removal Action Workplan, which evaluates cleanup approaches to ensure the site is safe for commercial and residential development. The Planning Commission’s decision on the renewal is expected to address both the environmental concerns and the community’s housing needs.

The commission will meet at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday in the City Council chambers.