LAMANDA PARKSPECIFIC PLANCity Council HearingNovember 18, 2024
PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION
Planning Commission RecommendationPlanning Commission Public Hearing - August 28, 2024Recommended approval of the proposed LPSP as presented by Staff with changes outlined in Attachment A of the Staff ReportKey Changes Recommended by the Planning Commission:1. Insert specific language to protect existing street trees throughout Lamanda Park (included in plan). 2. Require new and improved projects to include pedestrian walkways from arterial streets to main building entrances (included in plan).3. Incorporate additional pedestrian crosswalks along Colorado Blvd (included in plan).4. Incorporate a potential linear park along the former railroad right-of-way (included in plan). 5. Initiate pilot investments to be implemented and funded by the City within the first year of the Specific Plan’s adoption with a minimum budget allocation of $50,000 (not part of the specific plan document).3
RECOMMENDED SPECIFIC PLAN
5 Lamanda Park Specific Plan Area• Located in southeast Pasadena between 210 freeway, Roosevelt Ave, Colorado Blvd & KinneloaAve• Incorporates areas in the former East Colorado & East Pasadena Specific Plans • Major streets include Foothill Blvd, Walnut St, Sierra Madre Blvd & San Gabriel Blvd• Eastern portion of the LPSP is within ½ mile of the Sierra Madre Villa Metro Station
Plan Vision
Lamanda Park is envisioned as a hub of research and development, light industrial and creative businesses, supported by flexible spaces and diverse housing opportunities near jobs, shops and services, all connected by a vibrant public realm. 6 7 Specific Plan Subareas
Foothill District Subarea
8 Subarea Goals:A variety of neighborhood services & smaller scale commercial usesLower-density housingFlexible and compatible development with enhanced storefrontsEnhanced intersections, such as continental crosswalks & pedestrian bulb-outs, to encourage pedestrian activityEncourage more landscaping and vegetation throughout the area, such as landscaped setbacks & tree islands
Walnut Innovation District Subarea
9 Subarea Goals:A modernized industrial employment hubRetain & attract new creative employment sectors, such as artisan manufacturing, by allowing flexible typologies such as work/live & accessory uses to provide cafes & dining optionsFoster creativity & innovative building designEncourage screening & landscapingEncourage programming in the former rail right-of-way along the north side of Walnut St, such as a food truck court
Roseway District Subarea
10 Subarea Goals:A vibrant corridor with an improved public realm (e.g., landscaped medians & enhanced pedestrian crossings)Eclectic neighborhood with medium-scale mixed-use commercial & residential usesSupport auto-oriented businesses, including car dealerships, east of Sunnyslope AvePedestrian-focused design throughout the corridorEnhance and complement mature Ficus canopy along Colorado Blvd
KEY PROVISIONS IN THE RECOMMENDED SPECIFIC PLAN
LP-CF (shown in teal) allows a variety of commercial & industrial uses between Foothill Blvd & Nina St, with work/live south of Walnut StLP-MU-G(shown in blue) allows a mix of commercial & residential uses on the north side of Foothill BlvdLP-MU-N(shown in purple) also allows for a mix of commercial & residential uses but focuses more on pedestrian-oriented uses along Colorado BlvdOS(shown in green) is open space; it also allows utilities PD(shown in gray) is planned development12 Zoning Districts
LP-CFLP-MU-GLP-MU-NOSPD
Recommendation: Expand housing opportunities on the perimeter of the plan with highest densities located on Colorado Blvd at Sierra Madre Blvd & Sunnyslope Ave (shown in pink)Support work/live between Walnut & Nina St (shown in blue)13 Residential Density
Existing Regulation: Housing is permitted along the perimeter of the plan Most of the area is reserved for commercial and industrial uses (shown in gray) 64643248Work Live603248 N/AN/A32
Recommendation: Some heights were increased and some decreasedBuilding height remains relatively the same north of Foothill Blvd and at the center of Colorado Blvd at 39’ (shown in yellow)Increased building height to 51’ at key nodes along Colorado Blvd (shown in purple)14 Building Height
Existing Regulation: Limits building height to 36 feet throughout the plan area (shown in brown)Taller buildings, up to 60 feet, are allowed in the core (shown in purple) 45’60’36’ 51’(4 stories)39’ (3 stories)39’ (3 stories)51’51’ 15 Building Setbacks3 to 10 feet 5 to 15 feet 3 to 10 feet 5 feet Recommended Regulations: Establish a setback range to allow greater flexibility and space for landscaping with minimum 3 or 5 feet Plan also proposes to require an upper story setback to accommodate Ficus tree canopy (10’ stepback at 20’ building height) • Existing setbacks vary throughout the plan as many buildings predate the current Specific Plan rules.• Current setback is 5 feet minimum. 16 Sidewalks
Recommended Regulations: • Plan establishes minimum sidewalk widths, including space for trees & other amenities 12’10’12’12’
17 Planning Commission Recommendation #1:Include specific language to protect existing street trees• No proposed changes to existing street trees• Plan includes specific language to protect existing street treesStreet Trees 18 Connections to Building Entrances (Pedestrian Pathways)Planning Commission Recommendation #2:Require new and improved projects to include pedestrian walkways from arterial streets to main building entrances• Staff revised the standard to require a project located on a site with frontages on both Foothill Blvd & Walnut St to provide pedestrian pathways from both streets instead of only one
SPECIFIC PLAN IMPLEMENTATION
20 Pedestrian CrosswalksPlanning Commission Recommendation #3:Incorporate additional pedestrian crosswalks along Colorado Blvd• Plan includes a map with potential safety enhancements, including signalized crosswalk opportunities along Colorado Blvd
21 Linear Park Along Former Railroad Right-of-WayPlanning Commission Recommendation #4: Incorporate a potential linear park along the former railroad right-of-way• Plan includes Goal 9.d (Linear Park) and Action PA-4 (Pocket Park) Eloise St
Sunnyslope
Walnut St
Preliminary Cost for Implementation Action Items (Attachment G) 22 Example:IMS-3: Pedestrian Transportation Action Plan (PTAP) – Support implementation of pedestrian infrastructure in alignment with the PTAP. Study Foothill & San Gabriel Blvd as priority corridors identified in the PTAP for pedestrian safety & accessibility improvements, & develop concept corridor improvement plans specifying types & locations of improvements in coordination with the community. When funding becomes available, use concept corridor plans to develop design packages for construction bidding to implement the improvements. Timeframe: Near-Term (0 to 5 years from adoption of Specific Plan) Potential Funding Sources:CIP – Complete Streets Program (FY25-29), Curb Ramp ADA Improvements Program (FY 22-26), Citywide Leading Pedestrian Interval/Accessible Pedestrian Signals Implementation Program (FY25-29), Pasadena Pedestrian Plan Outreach & Conceptual Design (#75511), & Citywide Continental Crosswalk Implementation (#75917)Responsible Parties:Transportation & Public WorksApproximate Cost Estimates: •$1,133,262 (Foothill Blvd between Walnut St to east City limit) •$1,476,739 (San Gabriel Blvd between Maple St to California Blvd) 23 Implementation Actions in the Specific PlanPlanning Commission Recommendation #5: Initiate pilot investments to be implemented and funded by the City within the first year of the Specific Plan’s adoption with a minimum budget allocation of $50,000• Not included in the specific plan• Funding part of CIP and Budget process Example:
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Staff RecommendationIt is recommended that the City Council:1. Adopt the Addendum to the 2015 Pasadena General Plan Environmental Impact Report (EIR) and find that the Addendum properly discloses only minor technical changes or additions to the EIR, and none of the conditions triggering a subsequent or supplemental EIR are present, as set forth in State CEQA Guidelines Section 15164; 2. Make the Findings for Approval for the General Plan Land Use Map Amendment, Specific Plan Adoption, Zoning Map Amendment, and Zoning Text Amendment to adopt the recommended Lamanda Park Specific Plan. The Zoning Text Amendment also includes technical changes in the previously adopted Lincoln Avenue, East Colorado, South Fair Oaks, and Central District Specific Plans for internal consistency;3. Adopt a resolution approving the General Plan Map Amendment; 4. Adopt a resolution approving the recommended Lamanda Park Specific Plan; and5. Direct the City Attorney to prepare an ordinance for the Zoning Map and Text Amendments within 120days consistent with the provisions set forth herein.25
THANK YOU
28 Preliminary Cost for Implementation Action Items
29 Preliminary Cost for Implementation Action Items (Cont.)
30 Preliminary Cost for Implementation Action Items (Cont.)
31 Preliminary Cost for Implementation Action Items (Cont.)
32 Preliminary Cost for Implementation Action Items (Cont.)
33 Preliminary Cost for Implementation Action Items (Cont.)
34 35
Walnut St & Daisy Ave
36 37
Specific Plan Reference (Under Relationship to General Plan) 38 Abutting Residential Densities
39RM – 32RM – 32RM – 32RM – 16CGRM – 32RM – 32RS – 6RS – 6CLCLRM – 16AlleyCLRS-6RM-16RM-32CG 40 41
Floor Area Ratio
42 Planning Process and Public Outreach
43 Round 1 & 2 Community Workshops
Refer to Attachment B of the Staff Report for additional information
44 Interior Building Stepback
RM-32-PKRS-6AlleyRM-32
45 Standards:• Requirements are based on guidance from Public Works & the City’s Master Street Tree PlanoTrees planted at every 30’oMinimum tree well dimensions & frameoExpanded root zone cellStreet Trees on Sidewalks [New]
150 N. Vinedo St
46 Proposed OS Zoning District added to LPSP Area
47 Open Space Land Use Category
General Plan Land Use Diagram
48 49
Economic Development Goals
• Support environment for new development & businesses reinforcing surrounding creative / R&D uses• Support light industry• Encourage adaptive reuse• Create low barriers to entry for R&D projects• Preserve local-servicing businesses & employment opportunities 50 Guidance on Street Tree Selection
51 Guidance on Tree Islands & Landscaped Medians• Where sidewalk space is limited, tree islands may be used• Curb extensions provide traffic calming & can enhance stormwater retention• Additionally, street medians may be used to incorporate landscaping• Flowering accent trees in street medians complement street tree recommendations, enhancing the streetscape’s visual character
Brief Historic Context• 1850s – Ranches were developed with orchards & vineyards• 1880s – Pacific Electric Railway begins operating the Lamanda Park Line with a station at San Gabriel Blvd & Walnut St•1900s –Development continued with additional transportation infrastructure, including the construction of trolley service along Colorado Blvd• 1920 – Territory of Lamanda Park is formally annexed by City of Pasadena• 1950s/1960s – Industrial and commercial development boom• 1976 – 210 freeway opens through Pasadena, rerouting the existing railroad tracks• 2003 – Metro A Line runs along the 210 freeway 52 Important Economic Hub for the City
53 • Area has over 750 businesses• Employs close to 5,500 people• Over 100 businesses operating for more than 20 years• Low vacancies• Types of businesses include advertising agencies, autobody, auto sales, hardware stores, cafes and restaurants, pet grooming services, pharmacies, sheet metal work and manufacturing