Pandemic-Related Delays Lead Developers To Request Time Extension On 16-Unit East Villa Street Project

Developers of a one-to-three story 16-unit residential project located at 1105 E. Villa St. in Pasadena are seeking a new time extension of the final design review approval since no work has been started on the project from the time the approval was granted in 2016. 

The reason given was that due to the COVID-19 pandemic the applicant was unable to remove tenants from the property or assemble a construction team. 

The request for a time extension, the second for the project, will be presented before the Design Commission, which meets virtually at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 13. 

A staff report by the Department of Planning and Community Development said the Design Commission approved an application for Final Design Review for the project on June 28, 2016, and the decision became effective on Tuesday July 12, 2016. On May 28, 2019, the Design Commission granted the applicant a one-year time extension to July 12, 2020. 

On March 30, 2020, the Pasadena City Council acknowledged that the unprecedented disruptions to the project, due to the pandemic, would present significant challenges to developers, and approved Resolution No. 9774, which allowed an automatic one-year time extension for this type of project, up to July 12, 2021. 

The Planning Department’s report said the project has been submitted for building plan check and the building permit is ready to issue. 

As the Design Commission was the original review decision body, it is required, under the Zoning Code, to hold a public hearing before the requested time extension could be granted.

If granted, this extension will be the last of two available extensions for the project, the Planning Department said. The report also said the department recommends approval of the request because the project remains consistent with Zoning Code requirements and with the applicable design guidelines, which have not changed since the project’s original approval. 

The public can access the deliberations during the Design Commission meeting. To access, visit https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81111223185 or call (669) 900-6833 and use the webinar ID 811 1122 3185. 

Public comments may be sent in advance to mtakeda@cityofpasadena.net or be submitted through www.cityofpasadena.net/planning/public-comment/.