Medical offices are now a by-right use along the South Fair Oaks corridor, and a 214-unit affordable apartment complex on East Colorado Boulevard won approval of up to $50 million in tax-exempt bond financing after the Pasadena City Council took up both items at its Monday, June 8 meeting. The zoning ordinance was adopted the following week, on Monday, June 15.
The ordinance amends Titles 3 and 17 of the Pasadena Municipal Code and the South Fair Oaks Specific Plan. Five changes are bundled in the package:
- Medical offices added as a by-right use in the Mixed-Use Neighborhood (MU-N) zoning district within the South Fair Oaks Specific Plan area. Acting Planning Director Jason Mikaelian wrote in the staff report that omitting medical offices from the MU-N zone "was found to be an oversight" when the plan was adopted in 2022, given the zone's proximity to Huntington Hospital.
- Rose Parade grandstand construction may now begin as early as Nov. 1 instead of the previous Nov. 7 start date.
- Anti-climbing roller barriers are now permitted atop fences in single-family zones along interior, corner-side, and rear lot lines, adding up to one foot of height for a seven-foot maximum.
- Taller front-yard fences (up to six feet) are allowed in RS-1 and RS-2 zones when a house sits at least 40 feet back from the front property line.
- Miscellaneous updates to accessory dwelling unit, temporary use, and definitions sections.
The Planning Commission recommended approval 8-0 on Wednesday, February 25.
Colorado Grand Oaks: 214 Affordable Units
The council also held a TEFRA public hearing and approved a resolution allowing the California Municipal Finance Authority to issue up to $50 million in tax-exempt bonds for Colorado Grand Oaks LP. The project, developed by Meta Housing Corp. with Studio One Eleven as architect, calls for a six-story, 100% affordable housing complex at 2155–2193 East Colorado Boulevard, at the northwest corner of East Colorado Boulevard and North Grand Oaks Avenue.
The 1.44-acre site, formerly home to auto service buildings, is planned for 212 affordable units and two manager units. The mix includes 98 one-bedroom, 57 two-bedroom, and 59 three-bedroom apartments restricted to lower-income households. The building includes 109 at-grade parking spaces in the plans.
Under California's Density Bonus Law, the project qualifies for 149 units per acre versus the base zoning cap of 32, a height of nearly 74 feet versus the 39-foot base limit, and far fewer parking spaces than the 293 otherwise required.
Pasadena takes on no financial or legal obligation for the bonds, according to the staff report prepared by Deputy Finance Director Vic Erganian and submitted by Finance Director Karin Schnaider. The city will receive roughly $32,970 in combined CMFA grant and TEFRA fees.
The TEFRA hearing was first scheduled for Monday, March 23 and continued twice before being heard June 8.
All eight council members were present at the June 8 meeting: Mayor Victor Gordo, Vice Mayor Jess Rivas, and Council members Rick Cole, Tyron Hampton, Justin Jones, Jason Lyon, Steve Madison, and Gene Masuda. Individual vote tallies on Items 22 and 23 have not been published in the city's meeting records as of June 29.
Residents can review the adopted ordinance and South Fair Oaks Specific Plan amendments at cityofpasadena.net/planning or by calling the Planning Department at (626) 744-7311.
