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Ordinance Fact Sheet
March 17, 2025
TO: CITY COUNCIL
FROM: CITY ATTORNEY
SUBJECT: AN INTERIM UNCODIFIED ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF PASADENA AMENDING VARIOUS SECTIONS OF TITLE 17
(ZONING CODE) OF THE CITY OF PASADENA MUNICIPAL CODE
TO SUSPEND AND MODIFY DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS AND
PROCEDURES AND EXTEND CERTAIN LAND USE RELATED
DEADLINES UNDER TITLE 17 (ZONING CODE), TITLE 16
(SUBDIVISIONS) AND TITLE 14 (BUILDINGS AND
CONSTRUCTION) OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE TO SIMPLIFY THE
REBUILD PROCESS AFTER THE EATON FIRE
TITLE OF PROPOSED ORDINANCE
AN INTERIM UNCODIFIED ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF PASADENA AMENDING VARIOUS SECTIONS OF TITLE 17 (ZONING CODE) OF THE
CITY OF PASADENA MUNICIPAL CODE TO SUSPEND AND MODIFY
DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS AND PROCEDURES AND EXTEND CERTAIN LAND USE RELATED DEADLINES UNDER TITLE 17 (ZONING CODE), TITLE 16 (SUBDIVISIONS) AND TITLE 14 (BUILDINGS AND CONSTRUCTION) OF
THE MUNICIPAL CODE TO SIMPLIFY THE REBUILD PROCESS AFTER THE
EATON FIRE
PURPOSE OF THE ORDINANCE
As directed by the City Council on February 24, 2025, this ordinance amends various sections of Titles 14, 16, and 17 of the Pasadena Municipal Code to suspend and modify development standards and procedures and to extend certain land use related deadlines for entitlements and permits to simplify the rebuild process in the aftermath of the Eaton Fire.
03/17/2025 MEETING OF
18 AGENDA ITEM NO.
W91B90100D2K7F
Rebuild Ordinance
March 17, 2025
REASONS WHY LEGISLATION IS NEEDED
On January 7, 2025, the City of Pasadena experienced a severe windstorm, and the destructive Eaton Fire began. These events caused widespread damage to private property, with the Eaton Fire destroying thousands of structures in the region and displacing tens of thousands of residents. The Governor proclaimed a state of emergency on January 7, 2025, and the City Manager proclaimed a state of emergency on January 8, 2025 (ratified by the City Council on January 13, 2025).
In Pasadena, the Eaton Fire destroyed 185 structures, the overwhelming majority of which were single-family dwelling and accessory structures in Upper Hastings Ranch, Victory-Rose, Dundee Heights and NATHA neighborhoods. The Upper Hastings Ranch structures are also located in Hillside Development Overlays.
The City Council has found there is a current and immediate threat to the public health, safety, or welfare from the destruction of structures and displacement of residents and that the current zoning code requirements for residents to rebuild would exacerbate the existing threat by delaying the rebuild of structures and homes. The purpose of this ordinance is to ensure the timely rebuild by suspending and modifying zoning development standards and extending certain land use related deadlines for entitlements and permits granted in compliance with Titles 14, 16 and 17 of the Pasadena Municipal Code.
This ordinance shall sunset after 45 days unless renewed by the City Council. The Planning Department intends to agendize a future item to renew this ordinance as appropriate.
REVISED RECOMMENDATION BASED ON CITY COUNCIL DIRECTION
At the March 3, 2025 City Council meeting, the City Council discussed the maximum size of the rebuild for single-family dwellings. Staff recommended a maximum of 10% of the building footprint or gross floor area, whichever is greater. The City Council requested that property owners be allowed to build 150 square feet regardless of their previous property size, which would benefit properties that were developed with smaller dwellings. The City Council directed that all projects be allowed to build at least 150 square feet or 10%, which was seen as a reasonable amount of square footage to allow a small room addition. Property owners may construct more than this amount, provided they meet other Zoning Code requirements.
After additional research, staff recommends increasing the amount to 200 square feet. The smallest dwelling that was destroyed was 896 square feet and the average dwelling size was 2,043 square feet. This would allow property owners of smaller dwellings the abilities to add comparable square footage as the average dwelling would be permitted. This would provide more flexibility for property owners to construct a small room and bathroom. Dwellings that are greater than 2,000 square feet would continue to benefit from the right to build at least 10% of the building footprint or gross floor area, whichever is greater. As such, the proposed ordinance W91B90100D2K7F
Rebuild Ordinance
March 17, 2025
permits certain property owners to build an additional 200 square feet without an entitlement permit.
PROGRAMS, DEPARTMENTS OR GROUPS AFFECTED
The Planning and Community Development Department will implement this ordinance.
ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION
On February 24, 2025, the City Council found that the proposed ordinance to facilitate the rebuilding of structures destroyed by the Eaton Fire, is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Executive Order N-20-25 and California Public Resources Code Section 21080(b)(3) for projects to maintain, repair, restore, demolish, or replace property or facilities damaged or destroyed as a result of a disaster in a disaster-stricken area in which a state of emergency has been proclaimed by the Governor pursuant to the California Emergency Services Act, commencing with Section 8550 of the Government Code, and to further find that the action to extend land use related deadlines for entitlements and permits is exempt from CEQA pursuant to California Public Resources Code Section 15061(b)(3) (Common Sense Exemption). The effects of this action are adequately addressed and encompassed by the City Council's determination and no further study is required.
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W91B90100D2K7F
Rebuild Ordinance
March 17, 2025
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact as a result of this ordinance amendment.
Respectfully submitted,
Michele Beal Bagneris^^
City Attorney
Prepared by:
Caroline K. K/lonroy U
Deputy City Attorney
Concurred by:
MIQUEt-M^RQUEZ
City Manager
W91B90100D2K7F