City Council 1 Zoning Code Amendments: Restaurants
July 15, 2024 Attachment A: Findings for Zoning Code Text Amendments
ATTACHMENT A
FINDINGS FOR ZONING CODE TEXT AMENDMENT
Prior to the approval of a Zoning Code Text Amendment, the following findings must be made:
1. The proposed amendment is in conformance with the goals, policies, and objectives of the General Plan.
The proposed amendment to the Zoning Code is consistent with the goals and policies of the General Plan as follows:
Land Use Element
• Goal 11. Job Opportunities. Provide land use capacities that accommodate a diversity of job opportunities for Pasadena’s residents.
o Policy 11.1 Business Expansion and Growth. Support the growth and success of businesses that create new job opportunities and productive and satisfying employment for Pasadena residents.
• Goal 15. Sound Local Economy. A sound local economy which attracts investment, increases the tax base, creates employment for Pasadena residents and generates public revenues.
o Policy 15.1 Local Investment. Advance local investment to support a robust and consistent resource for municipal revenues and opportunities that support community services and improvements.
• Goal 30. Neighborhood Villages. Lower density mixed- use clusters of residential and commercial uses developed in an integrated “village- like” environment with buildings clustered on common plazas and open spaces designed as communal places that are walkable from surrounding neighborhoods.
o Policy 30.6 Pedestrian Orientation. Encourage neighborhood serving land uses to provide access to services and goods by walking or bicycle.
The proposed amendment to the Zoning Code would modify the regulations that apply to restaurants in the City. The amendments will allow additional amenities in the form of walk - up windows and outdoor dining, by -right, amenities that many restaurants already have.
Creating regulations that govern outdoor dining to include parking lot dining, will allow for the formal inclusion of parking lot dining in the Zoning Code, thereby expanding the ability of new and existing restaurants to provide an additional amenity to attract customers , which in turn provides for additional employment opportunities and local investment. The combination of facilitating walk-up windows and allowing the reuse of parking areas as dining will support Pasadena’s emphasis on the pedestrian experience and the creation of an economic and social benefit where the area would otherwise be dedicated to automobile parking.
Finally, streamlining the entitlement process for alcohol sales at restaurants through an Administrative Conditional Use Permit process, is a procedural amendment and will support City Council 2 Zoning Code Amendments: Restaurants
July 15, 2024 Attachment A: Findings for Zoning Code Text Amendments new and existing restaurants by significantly reducing the application processing time for such entitlements.
2. The proposed amendment would not be detrimental to the public interest, health, safety, convenience, or general welfare of the City.
The proposed amendment to the Zoning Code would modify the regulations that apply to restaurants in the City.
The amendments will allow additional amenities in the form of walk-up windows and outdoor dining, by -right, amenities that many restaurants already have. Creating regulations that govern outdoor dining to include parking lot dining, will allow for the formal inclusion of parking lot dining in the Zoning Code, thereby expanding the ability of new and existing restaurants to provide an additional amenity to attract customers. The new regulations will ensure outdoor dining is not a negative impact on surrounding properties and/or residents. The other amendment, to streamline the entitlement process for alcohol sales at restaurants through an Administrative Conditional Use Permit process, is a procedural amendment and will provide surety to new and existing r estaurants by significantly reducing the application processing time for such entitlements. As such, the proposed amendments would not be detrimental to the public interest, health, safety, convenience, or general welfare of the City.