City Planners Map for the ‘Pasadena of Tomorrow’

What will the Pasadena of tomorrow look like? We’re not talking about George Jetson’s Pasadena. Specifically, we’re talking about what Pasadena will look like 20 years from now.

Within the next week, Pasadena residents will have an opportunity to visualize just that, according to city planners.

Saturday, June 23, at Pasadena City College, and Tuesday, June 26, at the Pasadena Senior Center, residents can see and give input to a proposed land use map that, if finalized, will lead to a future Pasadena planners match residents’ wishes.

“We have been doing a very long series of public participation events since 2009 and this concept land use map that we’re bringing forth now is the culmination of three years of public participation in the process,” says Stephanie DeWolfe, Deputy Director of Pasadena’s Planning Administration.

“What’s been the most interesting, and the most gratifying, is the enthusiasm we have received from the general public on this issue,” DeWolfe continues. “It’s kind of exciting to see a city like Pasadena to have such a long history of good planning.”

The current plan update was launched in spring 2009. Over 100 meetings and events were held to identify community concerns and issues. These are summarized in an Outreach Summary Report 2010. A series of workshops were held to take those ideas and translate them into four land use alternatives.

In summer 2011, a General Plan community survey was distributed to receive feedback on the alternatives and the existing General Plan’s guiding principles. The survey results provided a framework to draft a concept land use map. Staff also took into consideration seven guiding principles, the Economic Development Strategic Plan, and environmental factors.

“I think the survey response made clear that, first and foremost, is the idea of protecting and preserving some of the things that people feel is what makes Pasadena what it is,” DeWolfe explains. “That would be our historic resources, our beautiful residential neighborhoods, and parks and open spaces. We heard that consistently and we heard it from every corner of the community.”

DeWolfe also addressed some confusion about projected numbers included in the general plan.

“Those numbers are forecasts of the amount of development we believe we could expect from the concept plan,” states DeWolfe. “It is not a recommendation of what we want. It’s a reference tool of the indication of the amount of development we could expect from the plan. Those numbers were based on combination of factors. Some regional forecasts, market forecasts from consultants of local economists.

“They were also based on what is on the ground and the likelihood of what parcels are likely to be turned over and developed before 2035,” DeWolfe says. “Compared to what we currently have, and what is projected for 2035, it’s not that big an increase.”

Some of areas on the plan map are described as Opportunity Areas and DeWolfe said those attending the meetings had much to say about that. “On the map, the opportunity areas are those areas that the community said we would like to see something different than what is on the ground right now,” says DeWolfe. “Primarily, the community wanted to focus that kind of attention on the train station, the light rail station, because they did see opportunity in that area for additional housing and additional jobs where you could create a walk-able village around the train station.

“What we heard from the public was that they liked the idea of living near the train station, DeWolfe says. “They liked the idea that they could walk to transit, to jobs, to housing, from the train station. They also liked the idea of neighborhood villages.

Deputy Planning Director DeWolfe says this meeting gives Pasadena residents an opportunity to view the map and answer planners’ question ‘Did we get it right?’ before bringing their recommendation to the city council.

“This is the final round of public participation,” explains DeWolfe. “This is the last chance to frame or mold what will be the recommendation to the city council in the fall.”

The City has scheduled two upcoming public sessions:

Saturday, June 23, 2012
9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. OR 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Pasadena City College
Creveling Lounge, Building CC, 2nd Floor
1570 East Colorado Boulevard

Park in Lot 3 off of Hill Avenue ($2 per Vehicle)
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. OR 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Pasadena Senior Center
Scott Pavillion
85 E Holly Street
Parking validation provided for structure at Arroyo and Holly