San Rafael Neighborhoods Association Reports Strong Community Interest in West Pasadena Commercial Project

The president of the San Rafael Neighborhoods Association (SRNA) told Pasadena Now that the group has received more than two dozen letters after calling for comments on a proposed development that some residents say could increase street parking.

At 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, the Hearing Officer is scheduled to decide on a variance that would allow no onsite parking at 1388 W. Colorado Blvd., near Melrose Avenue in West Pasadena.

“We called attention to the project because our neighbors did not really know about it,” said SRNA Board President Robin Salzer. “Part of our mission is to inform the residents in West Pasadena, so they are informed and take part in the city’s process.”

The project calls for the construction of a 675 square-foot, single-story medical office building.

Last week the SRNA called for feedback on the scope and scale of the commercial project.

“Private property rights and neighborhood conformity are the issues at stake and your comments are a vital component to the direction of the development process that city staff will ultimately decide on,” Salzer said when he called for comments.

Local residents have said that the lack of parking at the new building would lead to more parking on nearby streets.

“My family and I live on Glen Summer (Road) and are extremely concerned about the variance application for the above property,” wrote Eric Goldreich.

“In addition to the potential disruption caused by the construction to both residents and businesses, the area is already desperately short of parking spots,” Goldreich noted. “The popularity of Little Flower, The Kitchen and the San Rafael Park already make parking in the area a challenge and drive visitors to park in front of our homes on Glen Summer, or on Colorado, a very busy street already.”

According to Goldreich, San Rafael Park is regularly filled with children, and cars sometimes park 10 or more in a line on each side of Glen Summer Road, south of the park.

“Adding a new structure while at the same time reducing parking would be unsafe as more and more pedestrians would be walking across Melrose from parking on Glen Summer [many frequently jaywalk with their coffees from Little Flower and the problem would only worsen]. Similarly, the neighbors on Glen Summer would be further inconvenienced and disrupted by more cars parked in front of their homes. We urge you to reject the Variance application,” Goldreich wrote.

This is the second time the project has come before a hearing officer.

On Sept. 16, a similar project was scheduled to be considered. At that time, city staff members received 17 letters in opposition, expressing concerns regarding pedestrian and vehicular visibility at the intersection, loss of landscaped open space, and loss of the existing clock building and/or visibility of the building onsite.

In response to the community feedback, staff successfully requested that the hearing officer continue the item.

The meeting can be viewed at: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89853163444