Application by Award-Winning Electric Car Maker Lucid Motors for Pasadena Sales Office Goes Before Hearing Officer

Pasadena’s Hearing Officer will continue a public hearing on Wednesday, January 5, about an application by Lucid Motors, the makers of the new Lucid Air electric vehicle, for a minor Conditional Use Permit (Minor CUP) to allow the operation of a vehicle sales and leasing office at 32 W. Colorado Blvd. in Pasadena.

The space will incorporate an interior showroom displaying a maximum of two vehicles, according to plans submitted to the Department of Planning and Community Development. Within the showroom, company representatives can receive customers and discuss pricing, vehicle orders, and allow them to test Lucid Motors’ driving experience with actual test drives or through virtual reality technology, the Planning Department said.

The report said the proposed office and showroom will be located within an existing three-story commercial building on the 4,386 square-foot site that’s on the south side of W. Colorado Blvd. between Mills Place on the west and South Fair Oaks Ave. on the east, with Edwin Alley to the south.

Lucid Motors will occupy an existing 3,866 square-foot tenant space on the first floor that used to be occupied by a fastfood restaurant, according to the report. The office and showroom will be in operation from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday, the report added.

Customers intending to test drive the vehicles may use any of six Lucid Air vehicles that will be reserved for test drive use and parked at the City parking structure at 33 E. Green Street, according to the report.

“The Department of Transportation has determined that the parking structure has sufficient capacity to accommodate the vehicles and recommends a condition of approval that the business owner shall secure parking agreements with the City of Pasadena Parking Division prior to the issuance of any building permit,” the Planning Department’s report reads.

The Planning Department is recommending approval of the Minor CUP application, saying that the proposed sales office and showroom, classified as Vehicle Services-Sale and Leasing, Limited use, would be consistent with other existing uses in the vicinity.

“The project is in conformance with the purpose of the Zoning Code, for properties within the CD-1-AD-1 zoning district,” the report said. “In addition, the project is consistent with the goals and objectives of the General Plan. Based on staff’s analysis of the requested addition, the vehicle sales use would remain compatible with the adjacent land uses and would not result in any adverse impacts to the surrounding area.”

Members of the public can access the public hearing through Zoom, at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83530315266 or by calling (669) 900-6833 and using the webinar ID 835 3031 5266.

Public comments may be sent by email to htam@cityofpasadena.net.

The public may also provide live comments on Zoom at the time of the hearing, which begins at 5:30 p.m.