Hearing Officer Will Weigh “Work/Live” Use Permit Application for North Mentor Avenue

Pasadena’s Hearing Officer will conduct a public hearing on Wednesday, Jan. 19, regarding an application for a Minor Conditional Use Permit (CUP) to establish a 1,250 square-foot “work/live” unit on the ground floor of an existing 2,400 square-foot two-story commercial building at 50 N. Mentor Ave. in Pasadena.

Under the Pasadena Zoning Code, a “work/live” use is “an integrated dwelling unit and working space, in which the work component is the primary use and the residential component is secondary,” occupied by a single housekeeping unit in a structure that has been designed or structurally modified to accommodate joint residential occupancy and work activity.

The use includes complete kitchen space and sanitary facilities in compliance with the Building Code, and working space reserved for and regularly used by one or more occupants of the unit.

In this specific case, the proposal includes renovating the existing 1,250 square-foot commercial space on the ground floor level, for the creation of a 370 square-foot residential unit and an 880 square-foot commercial office and studio.

Measuring 1,367 square feet, the property is located within the CD-5-AD-2 (Central District Specific Plan, Lake Avenue subdistrict, Alcohol Overlay District 2) zoning district, on the east side of Mentor Avenue, north of Colorado Boulevard, and south of Union Street. A two-story 2,400 square-foot commercial building is on the property, which does not provide any off-street parking.

A report by the Department of Planning and Community Development said the proposal was reviewed earlier by the Departments of  Transportation and Public Works, specifically by the Building and Safety Division, and the Design and Historic Preservation Section. These offices did not have any comments on the initial review but will look at the project once more during the building permit plan check process to ensure compliance with code requirements.

The Building and Safety Division listed a number of conditions that the applicant needs to meet. Overall, the Planning Department said the findings necessary for approval of the CUP for the project can be made, and recommends that the Hearing Officer approve the CUP application to allow the construction of a “work/live” use on the site.

The public hearing will be online and begins at 5:30 p.m. Members of the community can access it through https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89193966874 or by calling (669) 900-6833 and using the webinar ID 891 9396 6874.

Public comments may be sent by email through htam@cityofpasadena.net.