Hearing Seeks Public Input on Proposed Changes to Newly-Amended Historic Preservation Ordinance

The Pasadena Planning Commission on Wednesday will hold a public hearing to solicit public comment in response to some proposed text changes to the recently approved amendments to the City’s Historic Preservation Ordinance.

These text changes are necessary after the Department of Planning and Community Development saw an implementation concern with the new ordinance, and identified a few minor ‘clean-up’ items that need to be addressed regarding the ordinance.

Planning Department staff said the City’s Historic Preservation Commission conducted a public hearing on December 7 last year about the proposed text amendments and adopted their recommendation, except two of them: one that relates to modifying the review of window replacements, and another saying that historic resources surveys should be expedited to identify eligible historic resources and districts.

Explaining how implementation concerns came about after the new ordinance went into effect, the Planning Department said some of the amendments could result in some property owners being covered by Landmark District regulations when they may not desire to have those regulations imposed on them, could lead to increasing public animosity toward the City’s historic preservation efforts, or could result in identifying new landmark districts that are not supported by property owners.

The Planning Department said its recommendations are expected to return the landmark district designation process to a neighborhood-driven process instead of something the City forces upon the public.

Planning Department staff are expected to clarify these recommended changes during Wednesday’s public hearing, which begins at 6:30 p.m.

The public may access the public hearing through https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87054015851 or by calling (669) 900-6833 and using the webinar ID 870 5401 5851.

Public comments may be sent by email to htam@cityofpasadena.net. Live public comments may also be made during the Zoom video conference.