Council Approves First Reading of Ordinance Shutting Down ‘Planned Development’ Process

The Pasadena City Council unanimously approved the first reading of an ordinance that will eliminate future applications for Planned Developments (PDs) Monday night. 

“[The ordinance] amends the Zoning Code of the City of Pasadena by eliminating the ability to apply for Planned Developments, while retaining the ability to continue to process applications for Planned Developments submitted prior to February 27, 2023, and to administer and amend existing Planned Developments,” the draft ordinance reads. 

Last February 27, the City Council voted unanimously to eliminate PD application and process from the Zoning Code. 

Representatives from the Planning and Community Development Department had said the 31 existing PDs would remain in place and would be subject to the regulations that are currently in place while the two active PD applications would be processed to their conclusion.

As per staff report, PDs were intended for sites with opportunities to achieve a particular mix of uses, appearance, land use compatibility, or special sensitivity to neighborhood character. 

Each PD requires a Zoning Map amendment and a PD Plan prescribing development standards and land uses. 

As per staff report, the Zoning Code has tools outside of the PD process to address flexibility in development standards for exceptional circumstances, preservation of historic resources, and quality design. 

The city initiated the elimination of PDs in response to concerns about recent PD applications such as the oversized scale and intensity of development proposed under the PD; the lack of consistency of new development with the General Plan, Specific Plans, and Zoning Code; the limited public participation in the early development of project proposals; the need to balance project requests with potential community benefits; and the lack of consideration for appropriate and contextual design for PD projects. 

“Eliminating the Planned Development process would remove a tool that has resulted in recent project requests that have generated community concerns,” the staff report read. “Relying on the remaining tools in the Zoning Code for flexibility would tie future projects to the purpose and intent of the Zoning Code and Specific Plans, which are reflective of significant community input in crafting the City’s vision for development.” 

Councilmembers Gene Masuda and Jess Rivas were absent and did not take part in the voting.