Planning Commission to Weigh Amendments to the Zoning Code Allowing Housing on Institutional Sites

Pasadena’s Planning and Community Development Department will return to the  Planning Commission next week for a discussion on possible amendments to the Zoning Code to allow the establishment of housing developments on properties owned by institutions, including faith-based organizations.

There have been discussions at city hall for over a year about allowing underutilized land parcels within the city for housing following calls by churches and other faith-based organizations to allow vacant or unused areas on their lots to be used for affordable housing projects.

In January, the majority of the members of the Planning Commission said they want the Zoning Code to be amended to allow affordable housing developments not only on church vacant lots but on all institutional sites such as corporate yards, schools, libraries and hospitals.

However they stopped short of supporting a by right amendment.

At the upcoming meeting, the Planning and Community Development Department staff will provide information on the existing affordable housing regulations under the Zoning Code.

Staff is expected to also provide information on the city’s outreach efforts and potential changes to the existing development standards related to residential uses on underutilized parcels owned by religious facilities and other institutions.

The purpose of the meeting is for the department to seek feedback from the Planning Commission before it prepares its formal recommendations on the Zoning Code amendments.

In its report, the department said it is exploring the establishment of regulations to allow affordable housing as a permitted or conditionally-permitted use on sites with certain existing institutional uses.

It is also exploring the possibility of formally recommending the establishment of housing in other zones, provided that such housing includes on-site affordable units.

The study session will be held on Wednesday, March 23 at 6:30 p.m. The public can join the virtual meeting by clicking this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88552329466