^^,^
RECEIVED
?0?30CT 13 PH 1: 33
Cln' CLERK
CITY OF PASADENA
October 14, 2023
City Council
City of Pasadena
100 North Garfield Ave
Pasadena, CA 91101
Re: 740-790 East Green Street
We join with other concerned residents in asking the City Council to return the project to the Design Commission for a full and open discussion of all the potential environmental impacts that have been raised by residents.
City Staff relies on the Design Commission to have reviewed the many serious issues at play here and to have responded to public concern. Yet, at that hearing, the potential impacts were discussed only for a few minutes and minimal questions were asked. The Commission merely noted that the traffic impacts had been sufficiently mitigated by a change in use to a part of the project (from commercial to office space), that a report had been prepared finding no other problems, and then the discussion moved on to design particulars. We believe that these issues deserve a full discussion. For example, why does the movement to office space reduce the traffic issues sufficiently to mitigate traffic concerns when the VT threshold was originally surpassed? What are the issues raised by potential soil contamination and are the proposed mitigations sufficient to protect the public or the on-site workers? There have been many important changes to this project that have significantly improved it. Additionally, we support the much-needed affordable housing that will be provided once the project is completed. Yet however beneficial and well designed a project is, we must still have a full understanding of the environmental impact it will have.
The work the Design Commission does is critically important to our community. At the discussion of the project at 141 South Lake Avenue, a similarly large and impactful project, Commissioner Litwin asked an important question - at what point does design become function? More importantly. Chair Delgado stated that their commission was only to review design at this particular meeting, not the functional impacts of the project.
We believe there could be a misunderstanding of the Commission's responsibility, which is troubling to our organization since we want our city to remain "livable" as we grow. Design does drive the function and the impact on our community, our streets, and our resources. It 10/16/2023
Item 10
must be viewed from this point of view for successful development. As such, particularly when there is no other reviewing body for a project, the Design Commission needs to fully examine all aspects of a project. That did not happen here. As such, this project must be sent back to the Design Commission for a full, open discussion of the environmental impacts raised by this project. Livable Pasadena is concerned our city is growing without much needed review of environmental impacts, and frankly, it is very concerning.
Thank you,
Megan Foker
On behalf of Livable Pasadena
McMillan, Acquanette (Netta)
Subject:FW: 770 E. Green Street project
From: Paul Little <Paul(
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 9:32:56 AM
To: City_Council <[email protected]>
Cc: Jomsky, Mark <[email protected]>; Paige, Jennifer <[email protected]> Subject: FW: 770 E. Green Street project
[^\] CAUTION: This email was delivered from the Internet. Do not click links or open attachments unless you toowthe content is safe. Report phish using the Phish Alert Button. Learn more....
Hello.
Prior to the initial City Council hearing, I submitted the email below as public comment on the development at Green Street and Hudson Avenue in Pasadena.
I do not see that as part of the record from the previous meeting.
In case this was missed, I am resubmitting the letter from the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce.
Thanks,
Paul
From: Paul Little
Sent: Wednesday, September 13, 2023 2:21 PM
To: city [email protected]
Cc: Marquez, Miguel <[email protected]>; [email protected] Subject: 770 E. Green Street project
Good afternoon Mayor Gordo and City Council Members,
The Board of Directors of the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce and Civic Association fully supports the development of the mixed-use project at 770 E. Green Street. The project will activate an underused portion of Green Street and provide more than 200 housing units, with affordable housing on-site, which is much needed in Pasadena.
It has been fully vetted by your staff and approved by the Design Commission.
Please uphold that decision and allow the project to proceed.
Thank you,
Paul
Paj^iAM^
Paul Little
President and Chief Executive Officer10/16/2023
Item 10
1 -m
^j
Pasadena Chamber of Commerce and Civic Association
44 North Mentor Avenue
Pasadena,CA91106
626.795.3355
www, pa sad en a -ch am be r.o rg
This information could be sensitive or privileged. If you are not the intended recipient, please delete this email immediately.
Thank you.
2