On Third Try, Council Approves Controversial Los Robles Development

On Monday, the Pasadena City Council approved an affordable housing concession permit that will facilitate the construction of a new 91,217 square-foot, five to six-story, 90-unit, multifamily residential building (including eight “very low income” units), with associated parking in a three-level subterranean parking garage, at 253 South Los Robles Avenue.

But not before the project almost became a test case to challenge state laws that take control over housing developments away from cities.

Under state law, developers are granted bonuses if developers adds more than the required number of local income housing units. Developers will receive 21 extra units and two extra units for eight additional units.

The concessions will allow the developers to exceed the floor area ratio and increase it from 2.25 to 2.57 and exceed the maximum height of 60 feet to 75 feet.

“The City Planner said it’s a good project and not a great project and I only want to see great projects,” said Vice Mayor Tyron Hampton.

The project includes demolition of an existing 43,544 square-foot office building on site.

“We are receiving very few units in exchange for height density that is going to change the fabric of the city,” said Councilman Victor Gordo. “High-end development is causing Pasadena real estate to be more and more expensive.”

This is the third time the project has been placed on the City Council agenda. It was rejected in July after several hours of discussion. It came back with changes a second time but was not heard because several councilmembers were absent.

“We have to follow the law and our personal likes and dislikes don’t change the law, unfortunately,” said Councilman Andy Wilson.

Lawyers for the developer of the project threatened to sue the city earlier this year if the project was not approved.

In a Jan. 11, email to Pasadena Now, a lawyer representing, the developer, Zhuang & Zhong, LLC said he was prepared to follow through on a lawsuit if the Council did not approve the project.

“This argument that we either allow the reengineering of our city or we are against affordable housing is one I reject,” Gordo said.

The Madison Heights Neighborhood Association has argued that the project would bring excessive traffic and noise to the neighborhood and would exert a negative “cumulative impact” on the area. The development would be the third recent one in the area.

“The project has undergone modifications in response to issues raised during the Call for Review public hearing on July 22,” the staff report reads. “The modifications include reductions in height, density and floor area ratio.”

In November the project found new life when the Council voted 5-2 to review the project.

The city is currently in the midst of an affordable housing crisis.

“The applicant has made significant and meaningful adjustments to the plans associated with the project in response to the concerns raised by the Council and community, including adjustments to the overall height and massing,” the staff report reads. “The revised project is more respectful of the transition between the residential zoning district to the south and the Central District to the north and responds well to its surrounding context in terms of height. Through the required Design Review process, the massing of the building will continue to be refined to achieve the goals of the relevant design guidelines.”