Guest Opinion | Felicia Williams: Our City Planning Process Should Be Transparent and Accessible

Based on my three years on the Planning Commission, I see opportunities to make our planning process more transparent and accessible. The public has expressed concern about development in our city that is inconsistent with our vision of a diverse community with a strong architectural history and beautiful trees and open space.

One reason for this is state overreach into local control over zoning and land use. The other reason is a need for more transparency, and this is one of the concerns that I hope to address as the new chair of the Planning Commission.

Recently we have amended the Zoning Code too frequently and randomly throughout the year. Amending the rules that guide development is a very serious process that most cities do every couple of years and at scheduled times to ensure public input and consistency with other city codes. Pasadena is currently undergoing a specific plan process which will be a comprehensive update to the zoning code.

My recommendation is to comprehensively address issues like affordable and homeless housing through our specific plan process rather than piecemeal. If we are not careful we will have a Frankenstein zoning code with inconsistencies, which increases the city’s risk of being sued for “spot zoning” – allowing development on one parcel but denying it to a similar parcel next door.

I am also concerned when I hear residents refer to “secret” meetings taking place for proposed projects. We need to ensure as much as possible that these conversations happen in a public forum.

While I applaud the creative efforts of one group that has lobbied the City Manager to allow housing in church parking lots, the process has been allowed to proceed for months without public input. The process should have involved public input from the beginning and included PUSD, PCC, or other housing needs in the city. It is vital for the Planning Department to work in harmony with the Commission to set the agenda to preserve the public’s trust in our process.

I will only be chair of the Planning Commission for six months, but during that time I will fight for a more comprehensive review of our Zoning Code through the proper Specific Plan process, a more transparent agenda geared toward open public discussion, and reinstating the regular second and fourth Wednesday 6 p.m. meeting time to allow for adequate agenda posting and public comment. Public input makes projects better – we need to hear from you, so I hope to “see” you at our meetings!

Felicia Williams has a bachelor’s degree in public policy, a master’s degree in urban planning and currently works as a financial advisor to city government.