ATTACHMENT A
REQUIRED FINDINGS
City Council Attachment A: Required Findings
July 18, 2022 1 2021-2029 Housing Element Update
ATTACHMENT A
GENERAL PLAN CONSISTENCY FINDINGS
The Pasadena Zoning Code, Section 17.74.070, allows the City Council to approve amendments to the General Plan diagram and text provided the following findings are made:
1. The proposed amendment is in conformance with the goals, policies, and objectives of the General Plan;
The foundation of the City’s General Plan are the following Guiding Principles:
Growth will be targeted to serve community needs and enhance the quality of life. Higher density development will be directed away from residential neighborhoods and into the Central District, Transit Villages, and Neighborhood Villages. These areas will have a diverse housing stock, job opportunities, exciting districts with commercial and recreational uses, and transit opportunities.
New development will build upon Pasadena’s tradition of strong sense of place, great neighborhoods, gardens, plazas, parks, and trees.
Pasadena’s historic resources will be preserved. Citywide, new development will be in harmony with and enhance Pasadena’s unique character and sense of place. New construction that could affect the integrity of historic resources will be compatible with, and differentiated from, the existing resource.
Pasadena will be an economically vital city by providing jobs, services, revenues, and opportunities. A diverse economic base with jobs for Pasadena residents will be fostered; existing businesses will be encouraged to stay or expand; affordable housing will be provided for the labor pool; the continued fiscal health of the city will be ensured.
Pasadena will be a socially, economically, and environmentally sustainable community. Safe, well designed, accessible and human-scale residential and commercial areas will be provided where people of all ages can live, work, and play. These areas will include neighborhood parks, urban open spaces and the equitable distribution of public and private recreational facilities; new public spaces will be acquired. Human services will be coordinated and made accessible to those who need them.
Pasadena will be a city where people can circulate without cars. Specific plans in targeted development areas will emphasize a mix of uses, pedestrian activity, and transit; public and private transit will be made more available; neighborhood villages and transit villages will reduce the need for auto use.
City Council Attachment A: Required Findings
July 18, 2022 2 2021-2029 Housing Element Update
Pasadena will be a cultural, scientific, corporate, entertainment and educational center for the region. Long-term growth opportunities will be provided for existing institutions; a healthy economy will be fostered to attract new cultural, scientific, corporate, entertainment and educational institutions.
Community participation will be a permanent part of achieving a greater city.
Citizens will be provided with timely and understandable information on planning issues and projects; citizens will directly participate in shaping plans and policies for the city’s future.
Pasadena is committed to public education and a diverse educational system responsive to the broad needs of the community.
The 2021-2029 Housing Element Update is consistent with the General Plan principle of targeted growth and quality of life in that the sites inventory is consistent with the current General Plan Land Use Diagram and Land Use Element. Additional Goal HE-1 of the Housing Element is for neighborhoods citywide to have quality housing, parks and community services, infrastructure, and public services that maintain and enhance neighborhood quality, character, and residents’ health. The Housing Element update is consistent with the principle of Historic Preservation, in that Program 4 (Historic Preservation) promotes the identification, evaluation, rehabilitation, adaptive use, and restoration of historic structures, neighborhoods, and other landmarks. The Housing Element is consistent with the principle of economic vitality and the provision of affordable housing in that it is focused on planning for the Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) allocation of providing 5,974 affordable housing units. The Housing Element is consistent with the guiding policies of social, economic and environmental sustainability and being a city where people can circulate without cars, in that it is focused on providing housing opportunities consistent with the Land Use Element, which focuses growth in the highest resourced areas near transit. The Housing Element is consistent with the guiding principle of community participation in that it is reflective of the numerous public comments received in guiding the development and refinement of the Housing Element, including feedback from six community meetings, a community survey, five public Planning Commission meetings and three public City Council meetings. If also includes the feedback from the Mayor’s Housing Task Force, a group of community members with a background in housing issues.
Land Use Element
The Land Use Element is a collection of objectives, policies, and implementation measures that are designed to define and implement the vision of the community in narrative and graphical terms using as its foundation the Guiding Principles and established development criteria and standards that help guide public and private land use actions.
City Council Attachment A: Required Findings
July 18, 2022 3 2021-2029 Housing Element Update
Housing Element
The 2014-2021 Adopted Housing Element consists of four major goals:
Goal HE-1: Sustainable neighborhoods of quality housing, parks, and community services, infrastructure, and other associated services that maintains and enhance neighborhood quality, character, and the health of residents.
Goal HE-2: An adequate supply and diversity of quality rental and ownership housing opportunities suited to residents of varying lifestyle needs and income levels.
Goal HE-3: Expand, protect, and preserve opportunities for households to find and retain housing in Pasadena and afford a greater choice of rental and homeownership opportunities.
Goal HE-4: Adequate housing opportunities and support services for seniors, people with disabilities, families with children, college students, and people in need of emergency, transitional, or supportive housing.
The 2021-2029 Housing Element Update, refines the first three goals, carries over the fourth goal, and adds a fifth goal, consistent with new requirements in Government Code Section 65583. The updated goals below are consistent with the existing Housing Element.
Goal HE-1: Neighborhoods citywide with quality housing, parks and community services, infrastructure, and public services that maintain and enhance neighborhood quality, character, and residents’ health.
Goal HE-2: A balanced supply and diversity of rental and ownership housing suited to residents of varying lifestyle needs and income levels.
Goal HE-3: Increased opportunities for people to find and retain housing in Pasadena and to afford rental and ownership homes specific to their income and life stage status.
Goal HE-4: Adequate housing opportunities and support services for seniors, people with disabilities, families with children, college students, and people in need of emergency, transitional, or supportive housing.
Goal HE-5: A housing environment in which all people have equal access to the housing of their choice and are treated with dignity and respect in the neighborhoods in which they choose to live.
City Council Attachment A: Required Findings
July 18, 2022 4 2021-2029 Housing Element Update
2. The proposed amendment would not be detrimental to the public interest, health, safety, convenience, or general welfare of the City.
The proposed update to the Housing Element of the General Plan would not be detrimental to the public interest, health, safety, convenience, or welfare of the City because the proposed changes are consistent with and directly implement the Guiding Principles of the General Plan. The proposed amendments promote well-being and public convenience through the promotion of quality housing opportunities for all members of the community, including seniors, people with disabilities, families with children, college students, and people in need of emergency, transitional, or supportive housing. In addition, the Housing Element Update directly implements the policies contained in the City’s Land Use Element, which concentrates potential future growth near public transit. For all the reasons previously stated, the Housing Element Update is in consistent with public necessity, convenience, and general welfare of the Pasadena community.