Public Hearing on East Colorado Boulevard Specific Plan Scheduled for Monday’s Council Meeting

The City Council will conduct a Public Hearing on the East Colorado Boulevard Specific Plan during Monday’s meeting.

The city is updating all eight of its specific plans as part of the 2018 Our Pasadena program, launched as a step toward the implementation of the city’s General Plan, which guides overall future growth and development.

The plan area includes all parcels with frontage on East Colorado Boulevard between Catalina Avenue and the city’s eastern boundary and all parcels with frontage on Allen Avenue between Colorado Boulevard. and the 210 Freeway.

“The East Colorado Boulevard Specific Plan was created to encourage a vibrant mix of land uses, a unified streetscape and a series of distinctive places along a portion of Colorado Boulevard, approximately three miles in length, extending eastward from Catalina Avenue to the eastern City limits at Sycamore Avenue,” according to the city’s website.

The Planning Commission unanimously approved the proposed East Colorado Specific Plan update last year, but not before implementing key amendments to allow for drive-through restaurants, the reduction of required parking spaces in select areas around Pasadena City College, and a three-foot setback along Colorado Boulevard.

The plan also includes density uses.

The plan would also increase open space requirements for both residential and nonresidential projects.

For residential uses, the plan would update the combined private and common open space requirement from 150 square feet per unit to a per bedroom requirement ranging from 200 to 275 square feet per bedroom, in alignment with recent building practices.

“For example, a 24-unit building with an even mix of studios, one, two, and three bedroom units, this requirement would increase the required open space from a total of 3,600 square feet to 5,700 square feet, or about 238 square feet per unit. The updated requirement better aligns the amount of open space with the number of people living in a building with the objective of improving quality of life and open space access for residents,” according to a city staff report.

Higher open space requirements would also create building modulation opportunities through balconies, terraces, patios, and courtyards. The recommended ECSP also includes new common open space design requirements related to indoor/outdoor space, location, hardscape, landscaping, and trees to encourage the design of successful, usable open spaces.

The development of the plan included community meetings and presentations. In addition, a group of local residents and merchants participated in monthly meetings on a coordinating Committee to guide the direction of the Plan.

The East Colorado Boulevard Specific Plan was originally approved by the Pasadena City Council on May 12, 2003.