City Council Passes First Reading of Ordinance Amending Fuller Theological Seminary’s Master Plan

The City Council voted unanimously to move forward on an ordinance that would amend Fuller Theological Seminary (Fuller) Master Plan and Development Agreement to remove a parcel no longer owned by Fuller. 

Last June, the Planning Commission approved the proposed exclusion of the property at 282 N. Los Robles Ave. from both the Master Plan and the Development Agreement of the Fuller.

Fuller sold the property in 2013, along with seven other properties it previously owned. 

A six-story multi-family residential development with 105 dwelling units is planned for the site. Currently, the site is developed with a surface parking lot. No other changes to the Master Plan or the Development Agreement are proposed.

By amending the Fuller Master Plan, the proposed residential project would be subject to the City’s Inclusionary Housing Ordinance and be developed consistent with the surrounding high-density multi-family developments. 

“The great news is that this will result in more housing at a lot that I think is very appropriate for housing,” Mayor Victor Gordo remarked prior to voting on the proposal.

Fuller was established in 1947 and opened its Pasadena campus in 1953, gradually acquiring properties as its enrollment increased. In the early 2000s, Fuller started considering the expansion of campus facilities in order to accommodate its anticipated growth.

In 2006, at the request of Fuller, the City Council approved a 20-year Master Plan to fulfill that goal, as well as a Development Agreement to vest its development rights against any changes that might arise out of future General Plan and Zoning Code updates. 

The master plan proposes several developments including housing units, in conjunction with the expansion of the campus. 

Since the 2006 approval until today, the expansion never happened as the population did not grow as anticipated and Fuller has contracted instead of expanded. 

“Our goal here is to provide quality and a vibrant housing opportunity for the area,” Bill McKibbin, representative of the property owner CDB Investments LP said at the June 8 meeting of the Planning Commission. “We intend for this project to be a long-term asset and hopefully will lead to future opportunities within the city.” 

CDB Investments LP has submitted a separate application for design review for the proposed six-story multi-family residential development before the Design Commission.