City Hearing Officer to Weigh Air Parcel Rights of Proposed Mixed-Use Affordable Housing Project on Orange Grove Boulevard

A Pasadena hearing officer on Wednesday will consider a proposal for a tentative tract map to allow the creation of 48 residential and eight commercial “air parcels” on a 10,791 square-foot lot at 745-765 N. Orange Grove Blvd.

Completed, the project would include 22 low-income units and 13 moderate-income units, which under city housing law qualifies the development for a 35 percent density bonus, for a total of 48 residential units.

According to a report by the Department of Planning and Community Development, the 56-unit mixed-use project received concept design review approval on July 9, 2019 and final design review approval on May 12.

The application concerns only the creation of air parcels that will allow the sale of each dwelling or commercial unit, and would act to consolidate the two existing parcels that make up the project site into one lot.

Air rights are defined as the property interest in the air space above the Earth’s surface in which the land owner has the exclusive development rights in the space above his or her land. The airspace is considered property and retains developmental rights which can be sold or transferred.

The application does not address the design or construction of the mixed-use project and does not include any changes to the design review approval, the city Planning Department said.

A second case concerns a minor variance application for the construction of a 219 square-foot garage addition to the rear of the existing single-family residence at 585 S. Oak Knoll Ave.

The addition would attach the existing single-family residence, the primary structure, to the existing detached garage, the accessory structure. The Planning Department said the addition would be within the required rear yard setback and, once attached, the existing detached garage would be subject to setbacks of the primary structure.

The Planning Department said it was recommending approval of the minor variance application.

Wednesday’s public hearing begin at 5:30 p.m. and can be accessed through https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82724320541 or by calling (669) 900-6833 and using the webinar ID 827 2432 0541.

Public comment may be sent by email to tvarsh@cityofpasadena.net prior to the meeting day, or through www.cityofpasadena.net/planning/public-comment.