AR 12 Attachment D_GPEIR_Addendum_9.29.26 — Pasadena City Council, September 29, 2026 (part 1 of 2)

ATTACHMENT D

Our Pasadena – Putting the Plan in Motion
Fair Oaks Orange Grove Specific Plan Update
Addendum to the
Pasadena General Plan
Environmental Impact Report

DRAFT FOR PUBLIC REVIEW
Prepared for:

The City of Pasadena
Planning & Community Development Department
175 N. Garfield Avenue
Pasadena, CA 91101
Prepared by:
300 S. Grand Avenue, 9th Floor
Los Angeles, California 90071
September 2026
Page Intentionally Left Blank.

Table of Contents Fair Oaks Orange Grove Specific Plan Update Addendum to the Pasadena General Plan EIR September 2026 Page i
Table of Contents
CHAPTER 1 PURPOSE AND BACKGROUND ......................................................... 1

1.1 Applicability and Use of an Addendum................................. 2

1.2 Format of This Addendum.................................................... 3

1.3 Summary of Findings ........................................................... 4

1.4 Lead Agency and Discretionary Approvals........................... 4 CHAPTER 2 PROJECT DESCRIPTION.................................................................... 5

2.1 Introduction........................................................................... 5

2.2 Project Location.................................................................... 6

2.3 Project Objectives ................................................................ 9

2.4 Description of the Proposed Project ................................... 11

2.4.1 Relationship to 2015 General Plan..................................... 12

2.4.2 Relationship to 2002 Fair Oaks-Orange Grove Specific Plan 15 2.4.3 Proposed Specific Plan Updates ........................................ 15 CHAPTER 3 EVALUATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS ................................ 1 I. AESTHETICS....................................................................... 3 II. AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES.......................................... 6 III. AIR QUALITY..................................................................... 15 IV. BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES.............................................. 24 V. CULTURAL RESOURCES................................................. 33 VI. ENERGY ............................................................................ 42 VII. GEOLOGY AND SOILS ..................................................... 46 VIII. GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS .................................... 56 IX. HAZARDS AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS..................... 61 X. HYDROLOGY AND WATER QUALITY.............................. 71 XI. LAND USE AND PLANNING.............................................. 81 XII. MINERAL RESOURCES.................................................... 91 XIII. NOISE................................................................................ 94 XIV. POPULATION AND HOUSING........................................ 102 XV. PUBLIC SERVICES ......................................................... 107 XVI. RECREATION.................................................................. 111 XVII. TRANSPORTATION/TRAFFIC ........................................ 117 XVIII. UTILITIES AND SERVICE SYSTEMS ............................. 128 Environmental Determination...................................................... 138 CHAPTER 4 MITIGATION MEASURES.................................................................... 1 CHAPTER 5 LIST OF PREPARERS ......................................................................... 1 Table of Contents Fair Oaks Orange Grove Specific Plan Update Addendum to the Pasadena General Plan EIR September 2026 Page ii
List of Figures
Figure 1 – Regional Location Map .......................................................................... 2-6 Figure 2 – Pasadena’s Specific Plan Update Areas................................................ 2-7 Figure 3 – Proposed FOOG Specific Plan Boundary and General Plan Land Use Designations ......................................................................................................... 2-12 Figure 4 – Proposed FOOG Specific Plan Subareas............................................ 2-14 Figure 5 – Proposed FOOG Specific Plan Zoning Districts................................... 2-15 Table of Contents Fair Oaks Orange Grove Specific Plan Update Addendum to the Pasadena General Plan EIR September 2026 Page iii
Acronyms and Abbreviations
AB Assembly Bill
BMP Best Management Practice
CAAQS California Ambient Air Quality Standards
CARB California Air Resources Board
CEQA California Environmental Quality Act
CERCLA Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act
CG General Commercial
Checklist Environmental Checklist Form
City City of Pasadena
CL Limited Commercial
CMP Congestion Management Program
du/ac dwelling units per acre
EIR Environmental Impact Report
FAR
FOOG
floor area ratio
Fair Oaks Orange Grove
FTA Federal Transit Administration
GHG greenhouse gas
GP EIR 2015 Pasadena General Plan Environmental Impact Report HRA health risk assessment
I-210 Interstate 210
IS Initial Study
LEED Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
LOS level of service
LTS Less than Significant Impact
LTS-M Less than Significant Impact with Mitigation
MBTA Migratory Bird Treaty Act
MERV Maximum efficiency rating value
MMRP Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program
MU Mixed Use
NAAQS National Ambient Air Quality Standards
NI No Impact
O3 ozone
OEHHA Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment
OSHA Occupational Safety and Health Administration
PFD Pasadena Fire Department
PM2.5 fine particulate matter 2.5 microns or less in diameter PM10 respirable particulate matter ten microns or less in diameter PPD Pasadena Police Department
PPL Pasadena Public Library
PUSD Pasadena Unified School District
PWP Pasadena Department of Water and Power
RCRA Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
Table of Contents Fair Oaks Orange Grove Specific Plan Update Addendum to the Pasadena General Plan EIR September 2026 Page iv
RM Multifamily Residential
RTP/SCS Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy SB Senate Bill
SCAB South Coast Air Basin
SCAG Southern California Association of Governments
SCAQMD South Coast Air Quality Management District
SOC Statement of Overriding Considerations
S-U Significant and Unavoidable Impact
T-BACTs best available control technologies for toxics
TACs toxic air contaminants
TDF Travel Demand Forecasting
VMT vehicle miles traveled
VOC volatile organic compound
VT vehicles traveled
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CHAPTER 1

PURPOSE AND BACKGROUND
The City of Pasadena (City) has prepared this Addendum to the 2015 Pasadena General Plan Environmental Impact Report (GP EIR) (State Clearinghouse No. 2013091009) to address the potential site-specific environmental impacts associated with the update to the Fair Oaks-Orange Grove Specific Plan (proposed project or project). This Addendum is prepared in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act of 1970 (CEQA) (Cal. Public Resources Code Section 21000, et. seq., as amended) and its implementing guidelines (Cal. Code Regs., Title 14, Section 15000 et. seq., 2016). This Addendum has been prepared and will be processed consistent with CEQA Guidelines (Cal. Code Regs., Title 14, Section 15162 and Section 15164).

In 2015, the City updated the Pasadena General Plan and prepared the GP EIR to analyze potential citywide impacts, broad policy alternatives, and programmatic mitigation measures associated with the update of the Pasadena General Plan and specific plan amendments, which updated development caps within each specific plan area. The changes focused on the Land Use and Mobility Elements and the Land Use Diagram. The update also included the consolidation of optional elements into required elements of the General Plan. The Land Use and Mobility Elements, together with the other General Plan elements, guide the overall physical development of the City through horizon year 2035. The GP EIR is a Program EIR as defined by CEQA Guidelines Section 15161, California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Division 6, Chapter 3 and prepared in compliance with CEQA Guidelines Section 15168. The Final GP EIR was certified and the findings, Statement of Overriding Considerations (SOC), and Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program (MMRP) adopted by the City Council on August 17, 2015 (Resolution No. 9451).

Following the adoption of the General Plan Update and certification of the GP EIR, future discretionary actions include specific plan updates and amendments and zone changes to provide consistency with the General Plan. Therefore, the City is updating seven existing specific plans and creating one new specific plan to align with and implement the updated General Plan. The specific plan updates focus on establishing neighborhood-specific design and land-use goals resulting in new development standards and guidelines that will help shape the City’s major commercial and mixeduse areas. The Fair Oaks Orange Grove (FOOG) Specific Plan is one of the seven existing specific plans to be updated as part of the General Plan Implementation Program.

Per the GP EIR, future discretionary review may rely on analysis provided in the GP EIR for the purpose of tiering and/or streamlining. The purpose of tiering is to use the analysis of general matters contained in a broader EIR (such as the GP EIR) with later CEQA documents on narrower or more site specific projects (CEQA Guidelines Section 15152). Tiering serves to reduce repetitive analysis and provide subsequent site specific analysis at a time when it is meaningful. Tiering is common and appropriate when the sequence of analysis is from a General Plan EIR to a program Chapter 2: Project Description Fair Oaks Orange Grove Specific Plan Update Addendum to the Pasadena General Plan EIR September 2026

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of lesser scope, such as a specific plan (CEQA Guidelines Section 15152[b]).

Therefore, CEQA review required for the City’s eight specific plan areas may tier from the GP EIR pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15152.

1.1 Applicability and Use of an Addendum
Per the GP EIR, CEQA review required for the City’s specific plan areas may tier from the GP EIR pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15152. In addition, per CEQA Guidelines Section 15152(h), other methods to streamline the environmental review process also exist. These methods include the use of a Program EIR (i.e., GP EIR) for later activities (CEQA Guidelines Section 15168) and preparing an addendum (CEQA Guidelines Section 15164). Lead agencies have discretion regarding which method may apply and should be used.

Under the process described in CEQA Guidelines Section 15168(c), later activities in the program must be examined in the light of the Program EIR to determine whether an additional environmental document must be prepared. No additional documentation is required for subsequent proposed actions (e.g., updating of the City’s specific plans to implement the General Plan) if the examination determines that the potential impacts were within the scope of the GP EIR, and subsequent proposed actions implement appropriate feasible mitigation measures identified in the MMRP that accompanies the Final EIR. Whether a later activity is within the scope of a Program EIR is a factual question that the lead agency determines based on substantial evidence in the record. Factors that a lead agency may consider in making that determination include, but are not limited to, consistency of the later activity with the type of allowable land use, overall planned density and building intensity, geographic area analyzed for environmental impacts and covered infrastructure as described in the Program EIR. If the agency finds that pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15162, no subsequent EIR would be required, the agency can approve the activity as being within the scope of the project covered by the program EIR, and no new environmental document would be required.

The conditions in CEQA Guidelines Section 15162 calling for the preparation of a subsequent EIR are:

1. Substantial changes are proposed in the project which will require major revisions of the previous EIR or negative declaration due to the involvement of new significant environmental effects or a substantial increase in the severity of previously identified significant effects;

2. Substantial changes occur with respect to the circumstances under which the project is undertaken which will require major revisions of the previous EIR or negative declaration due to the involvement of new significant environmental effects or a substantial increase in the severity of previously identified significant effects; or
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3. New information of substantial importance which was not known and could not have been known with the exercise of reasonable diligence at the time the previous EIR was certified as complete or the negative declaration was adopted, shows any of the following:
a. The project will have one or more significant effects not discussed in the previous EIR or negative declaration;
b. Significant effects previously examined will be substantially more severe than shown in the previous EIR;
c. Mitigation measures or alternatives previously found not to be feasible would in fact be feasible, and would substantially reduce one or more significant effects of the project, but the project proponents decline to adopt the mitigation measures or alternative; or
d. Mitigation measures or alternatives which are considerably different from those analyzed in the previous EIR would substantially reduce one or more significant effects on the environment, but the project proponents decline to adopt the mitigation measure or alternative.

Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15164, the City, as the lead agency, has prepared this Addendum to confirm that none of the conditions identified in CEQA Guidelines Section 15162 and Public Resources Code Section 21166(c) have been triggered. For a proposed modified project or implementing activity, CEQA Guidelines Section 15164 provides that an Addendum to a previously certified Final EIR may be prepared if only minor technical changes or additions are necessary, or none of the conditions described in Section 15162 calling for the preparation of a subsequent EIR or negative declaration have occurred. The City must consider the whole of the data presented in the GP EIR with the information provided in this Addendum and the previously adopted MMRP.

1.2 Format of This Addendum
The previously certified GP EIR serves as the primary environmental compliance document for the project, and this Addendum provides minor changes and additions to the GP EIR. This Addendum should be considered with the full text of the previously certified 2015 GP EIR. All applicable mitigation measures from the GP EIR would be applicable to the proposed project and, therefore, are incorporated by reference into this Addendum. This Addendum relies on the use of an Environmental Checklist Form (Checklist), as suggested in Section 15063(d)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines. Per the CEQA Guidelines, an addendum does not need to be circulated for public review but can be included in or attached to the Final EIR prior to making a decision on the project.

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1.3 Summary of Findings
Based upon the Checklist prepared for the proposed project and supporting responses (see Chapter 3), adoption of the update to the FOOG Specific Plan would not result in substantial changes requiring major revisions to the previously certified GP EIR.

Further, the proposed project would not result in any new significant environmental impacts that were not discussed in the GP EIR or a substantial increase in the severity of previously identified significant impacts. No new mitigation measures are required for the proposed project. Since only minor changes and additions are required to the GP EIR, and none of the conditions described in Public Resources Code Section 21166 or CEQA Guidelines Section 15162(a-b) or Section 15163 requiring preparation of a subsequent or supplemental EIR have occurred, the City finds that the preparation of an addendum to the GP EIR is the appropriate CEQA documentation for the proposed project and that the proposed project is within the scope of the GP EIR.

1.4 Lead Agency and Discretionary Approvals
This Addendum and the previously certified GP EIR are intended to serve as the environmental documentation for the changes being proposed under the FOOG Specific Plan Update. The City of Pasadena is the lead agency under CEQA and maintains authority to approve the Addendum for the adoption of the FOOG Specific Plan Update. Discretionary approvals being sought as part of the FOOG Specific Plan Update include the following:
• Acknowledgement of this Addendum to the GP EIR and that no subsequent CEQA document is required;
• General Plan Land Use Map amendment to update the land use categories depicted on the Land Use Diagram as proposed in the FOOG Specific Plan Update. This amendment would also update the Land Use Diagram to reflect the recommended FOOG Specific Plan boundary;
• General Plan text amendment to align the plan boundary indicated on the General Plan Land Use Element with the boundary proposed for the FOOG Specific Plan area. Under this amendment, a few areas would be removed from the current plan, while additional parcels would be incorporated into the area; • Specific Plan Amendment for the FOOG Specific Plan Update; • Zoning Map amendment to replace zoning district designations indicated on the Zoning Map with the proposed FOOG Specific Plan zoning districts and subareas, and zoning assignment of parcels that are proposed additions to the plan area;
• Zoning Code text amendment to replace existing permitted uses and standards in the Zoning Code with the uses and standards proposed in the FOOG Specific Plan to implement the plan;
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• Zoning Code Amendment to incorporate a new FOOG Specific Plan ordinance to regulate zoning consistent with the General Plan, replacing the existing Pasadena Municipal Code Chapter 17.33; and
• Any other minor technical updates necessary for the General Plan Implementation Program/Specific Plan Updates project.

CHAPTER 2

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

2.1 Introduction
On August 18, 2015, the City certified the Pasadena General Plan (GP) Final Environmental Impact Report (GP EIR). The GP EIR analyzed potential citywide impacts, broad policy alternatives, and programmatic mitigation measures. The GP EIR analyzed the update of the GP and specific plan amendments, which were limited to specific plan boundary changes and updated development caps within each of the City’s eight specific plan areas. The changes focused on the Land Use and Mobility Elements and the Land Use Diagram. The update also included the consolidation of optional elements into required elements of the General Plan. The Land Use and Mobility Elements, together with the other General Plan elements, guide the overall physical development of the City through horizon year 2035.

The City is updating seven existing specific plans and creating one new specific plan to align with the updated 2015 General Plan. The specific plan updates focus on establishing neighborhood-specific design and land-use goals resulting in new Chapter 2: Project Description Fair Oaks Orange Grove Specific Plan Update Addendum to the Pasadena General Plan EIR September 2026

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development standards and guidelines that will help shape the City’s major commercial and mixed-use areas. The FOOG Specific Plan is one of the seven existing specific plans to be updated as part of the General Plan Implementation Program; the original FOOG Specific Plan was adopted in 2002.

The purpose of this Addendum to the GP EIR is to evaluate the environmental effects associated with the proposed FOOG Specific Plan Update and to determine whether these impacts are consistent with the evaluation presented in the GP EIR in compliance with CEQA (Public Resources Code Sections 21000 et seq.) and the State CEQA Guidelines (California Code of Regulations Section 15000 et seq.).

2.2 Project Location
The FOOG Specific Plan boundary extends along a 2-mile segment of North Fair Oaks Avenue between the I-210 Freeway to the south and Montana Street to the north, as well as a 0.9-mile segment of Orange Grove Boulevard between Lincoln Avenue and Los Robles Avenue. The specific plan area is generally bounded by Maple Avenue to the south; Lincoln Avenue, Morton Avenue, Sunset Avenue and Linder Alley to the west; the city limits at Altadena to the north; and Raymond Avenue and Oakland Avenue to the east. The Metro A Line and I-210 freeway are located just outside the existing FOOG Specific Plan boundary to the south.

Figure 1 shows the general location of the existing FOOG Specific Plan area within the region. Figure 2 shows the FOOG Specific Plan Update area among the general locations of the City’s eight Specific Plans that make up the General Plan Implementation Program.

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Figure 1 - Regional Location Map
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Figure 2 - Pasadena’s Specific Plan Update Areas
*Specific Plan Boundaries are Subject to Change

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2.3 Project Objectives
The primary goals and objectives identified in the 2015 GP EIR include:
• Objective 1: Provide a new Land Use Element that targets growth to serve community needs and enhance the quality of life. Direct higher density development away from residential neighborhoods and into the Central District, Transit Villages, and Neighborhood Villages.
• Objective 2: Reduce vehicle miles traveled for the City and the region by providing a diverse housing stock, job opportunities, and exciting districts with commercial and recreational uses, and transit opportunities in the Central District, Transit Villages, and Neighborhood Villages.
• Objective 3: Ensure new development builds upon Pasadena’s tradition of strong sense of place, great neighborhoods, gardens, plazas, parks, and trees. • Objective 4: Preserve Pasadena’s historic resources by ensuring that new development is compatible with and differentiated from existing historic resources.
• Objective 5: Achieve economic vitality and fiscal responsibility by providing jobs, services, revenues, and opportunities with a diverse economic base. • Objective 6: Provide a General Plan that establishes the goals and policies to create a socially, economically, and environmentally sustainable community.

Provide safe, well-designed, accessible, and human-scale residential and commercial areas where people of all ages can live, work, and play, including neighborhood parks, urban open spaces, and the equitable distribution of public and private recreational facilities.
• Objective 7: Create a cultural, scientific, corporate, entertainment, and educational center for the region. Provide long-term growth opportunities for existing institutions and foster a healthy economy to attract new cultural, scientific, corporate, entertainment, and educational institutions. • Objective 8: Create mobility guidelines and multimodal metrics consistent with Senate Bill (SB) 743. Incorporate new goals, policies, and programs that balance multiple modes of transportation and meet the requirements of the Complete Streets Act.
• Objective 9: Reduce greenhouse gas emissions and encourage walking, biking, transit, and other alternatives to motor vehicles by creating strategies to encourage nonautomotive travel and protect residential neighborhoods Chapter 2: Project Description Fair Oaks Orange Grove Specific Plan Update Addendum to the Pasadena General Plan EIR September 2026

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consistent with Assembly Bill (AB) 32, SB 375, and SB 743. • Objective 10: Reconcile General Plan buildout projections with regional and subregional estimates for growth creating consistency with the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG).
• Objective 11: Incorporate housing sites identified in the adopted Housing Element with the Land Use Element.

In accordance with the GP EIR goals and objectives, the proposed FOOG Specific Plan Update includes the following vision statement:

Vision Statement: Fair Oaks Avenue and Orange Grove Boulevard will offer a variety of housing options and flexible commercial, recreational, and community-building spaces around active, people-oriented corridors that celebrate the neighborhood’s rich history.

Vision Objectives:
• Complete Neighborhood: A mix of diverse uses that provide residents with their daily needs and convenient connections around the community and region. • A Sense of Place: Placemaking through new and existing gathering spaces, public art and community events that build on the area’s history and identity. • New & Affordable Housing: High-quality housing that works for modern households, affordable to people at various income levels and sized to fit different families.
• Walkable Streets: Safe and comfortable mobility options for those getting around without a car, with streets shared by all modes of transportation. • Local Businesses: Locally owned and operated businesses that add to the economic vibrancy as well as the historic character of the neighborhood. • Activity Centers: Lively intersections along the primary boulevards with neighborhood destinations, including retail, restaurants and public green space.
• Green Community: A lush public realm with mature shade trees and landscaping that fosters sustainability, cooling, and climate resilience. • Environmental Justice: Equal access, fair treatment and meaningful involvement for all people, especially minority populations and vulnerable communities.

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2.4 Description of the Proposed Project
The proposed project would update the FOOG Specific Plan to implement the General Plan. As part of the proposed project, a General Plan Land Use Diagram amendment would be adopted so that the Land Use Diagram is consistent with the boundaries and land use categories proposed in the FOOG Specific Plan Update. The purpose of this Addendum to the GP EIR is to evaluate the environmental effects associated with the proposed FOOG Specific Plan Update as compared to the evaluation presented in the GP EIR.

This project proposes to update the following components of the FOOG Specific Plan to bring it into alignment with the General Plan:
• Specific Plan Area boundary
• Vision, objectives, goals and policies
• Zoning districts regulating allowed land uses
• Density and intensity of development
• Height and/or overall scale of buildings and structures • Distance of buildings and structures to the property line (setbacks/stepbacks) • Urban design standards
• Vehicle access and parking standards
• Types and amount of open space and landscaping requirements • Public realm standards (sidewalks, parkways and street trees) • Implementation programs
Updates to the FOOG Specific Plan primarily focus on refining and/or establishing land uses and zoning districts, as well as objective development standards to achieve the goals and vision of the General Plan. This includes building upon the area’s existing strength as a neighborhood corridor with a mix of uses, walkable areas with shopping, restaurants, offices, and housing. Updates to the FOOG Specific Plan seek to stimulate housing and commercial development, encourage pedestrian-oriented retail and services, support pedestrian mobility, and target housing opportunities in a contextually sensitive manner. Through incremental development, the Plan would strengthen Fair Oaks Avenue’s role as a local “main street”, providing a wider variety of amenities, services, and housing options to residents, employees, and visitors. To support the land use and zoning district updates, the FOOG Specific Plan Update includes urban design standards related to scale, frontages, open space, and parking to encourage quality architecture that enhances the community’s unique character.

Standards for the public realm are also included in the FOOG Specific Plan Update to address and regulate pedestrian infrastructure and amenities to support a safe, accessible, and comfortable pedestrian experience, including sidewalks, parkways, and street trees. The FOOG Specific Plan Update does not address public roadway modifications or improvements, which are within the purview of other City documents.

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2.4.1 Relationship to 2015 General Plan
The 2015 General Plan represented an update to the City General Plan Elements, including the Mobility Element and the Land Use Element, which guide the overall physical development of the City. The 2015 General Plan also established new development caps for each of the Specific Plan areas, including the FOOG Specific Plan. However, the General Plan leaves the more detailed development and design standards to be identified in the Specific Plan. The proposed FOOG Specific Plan Update establishes the regulatory tools needed to implement the General Plan through the identification of development and design standards suited to the FOOG Specific Plan area. As this document compares the environmental impacts of the proposed FOOG Specific Plan Update to those analyzed in the GP EIR, it is important to note the following:
• The proposed FOOG Specific Plan Update does not modify or change the intent of the adopted General Plan. Rather, the updates to the FOOG Specific Plan are being proposed to achieve the goals and vision of the General Plan by adding the necessary regulatory tools for implementation. Additionally, a Zoning Code amendment would be required to incorporate a new FOOG Specific Plan ordinance to regulate zoning consistent with the General Plan, replacing the existing Pasadena Municipal Code Chapter 17.34. • The General Plan established land use and corresponding density and intensity ranges but did not establish development and/or design standards (e.g., height limits, setbacks, etc.). The FOOG Specific Plan Update adds more specific standards to implement the General Plan Land Use categories for the FOOG Specific Plan area. It provides those development and design standards through zoning districts and land use regulations, thereby, further regulating the land uses studied in the GP EIR.
• The proposed FOOG Specific Plan Update follows the plan area boundary with minor revisions noted below, and sets densities and intensity standards which are within the General Plan ranges with the exception of the following recommended amendments:
o Add two parcels near the intersection of Orange Grove Boulevard and Cypress Avenue (AIN 5726-010-041 and 5726-010-042) and update the land use designation from Med-High Density Residential (0-32 du/ac) to Low Mixed-Use (0-32 du/ac and 0-1.0 FAR).
o Add a portion of the parcel north of Orange Grove Boulevard between Lincoln Avenue and Manzanita Avenue (AIN 5726-018-095) and update the land use designation from Low-Med Residential (0-12 du/ac) to Low Mixed-Use (0-32 du/ac and 0-1.0 FAR).
o Update the land use designation for selected parcels along Fair Oaks Avenue between Orange Grove Boulevard and Yale Street from Chapter 2: Project Description Fair Oaks Orange Grove Specific Plan Update Addendum to the Pasadena General Plan EIR September 2026

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Medium Mixed-Use (0-87 du/ac and 0-2.25 FAR) to Low-Med Mixed Use (0-48 du/ac and 0-1.75 FAR). Add a parcel east of Fair Oaks Avenue (AIN 5726-003-032) and update the land use designation from Low-Med Density Residential (0-6 du/ac) to Low-Med Mixed Use (0-48 du/ac and 0-1.75 FAR).
o Add the parcel on Painter Street west of Wheeler Lane (AIN 5725-001- 001) and update the land use designation from Low-Med Density Residential (0-12 du/ac) to Low-Med Mixed-Use (0-48 du/ac and 0-

1.75 FAR).
o Update the land use designation for parcels on the west side of Raymond Avenue near Orange Grove Boulevard from Medium MixedUse (0-87 du/ac and 0-2.25 FAR) to Low-Medium Mixed-Use (0-48 du/ac and 0-1.75 FAR).
o Update the land use designation for parcels east of Fair Oaks Avenue between Claremont Street and Washington Boulevard from Medium Density Residential (0-16 du/ac) to Low-Medium Mixed-Use (0-48 du/ac and 0-1.75 FAR).
o Update the land use designation for Low Mixed-Use (0-32 du/ac and 0-

1.0 FAR), Medium Density Residential (0-16 du/ac) and Low Commercial (0-1.0 FAR) parcels north of Washington Boulevard to Low-Med Mixed-Use (0-48 du/ac and 0-1.75 FAR.
• The proposed FOOG Specific Plan establishes an overall vision for the plan area, the policies and standards apply specifically to private development and adjacent sidewalks.

Figure 3 illustrates the proposed FOOG Specific Plan Update boundary and General Plan land use designations within the Specific Plan area. Each designation has a corresponding density and intensity as defined by the General Plan.

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Figure 3 – Proposed FOOG Specific Plan Boundary and General Plan Land Use Designations
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2.4.2 Relationship to 2002 Fair Oaks-Orange Grove Specific Plan The existing Fair Oaks-Orange Grove Specific Plan was adopted by the City Council in 2002. The 2015 GP and corresponding GP EIR included some policies carried over from the 2002 Specific Plan (2002 SP). The purpose of the 2002 SP was designed to revitalize the area into a pedestrian-oriented, mixed-use community. Adopted to improve local quality of life, it focuses on enhancing commercial, residential, and institutional spaces while fostering a, connected neighborhood center. As such, the development and design standards listed in the 2002 SP are applicable to the parcels in the FOOG Specific Plan area until the FOOG Specific Plan Update being analyzed in this Addendum is adopted.

The proposed updates to the FOOG Specific Plan would build on the progress initiated by the 2002 SP and further the vision set by the 2015 General Plan by establishing land uses and zoning districts for a more cohesive approach to mixed-use development and public realm connectivity to support transit usage. The specific plan land uses organize land use types by zoning districts while development standards such as height restrictions, density limitations, parking requirements, public realm, etc. are regulated by location-based maps. The primary changes between the 2002 SP and the FOOG Specific Plan Update are updated policies and standards that align with the General Plan and address current and future community needs, opportunities, and challenges.

2.4.3 Proposed FOOG Specific Plan Updates
The vision and goals of the proposed FOOG Specific Plan Update are implemented through three sets of tools set forth in the FOOG Specific Plan. These tools include land use regulations, design and development standards, and public realm standards.

The unique characteristics of the plan area are articulated through defined subareas.

Each subarea is implemented by one or more zoning districts that regulate permitted land use types. Figure 4 shows proposed subareas.

Development standards are regulated by location, not zoning districts, and include standards that improve building design and require site design that complements existing defining features of the neighborhood’s built form, such as consistent setbacks, open space requirements, parking location requirements, and landscaping.

General discussions on the development and design standards to be implemented under the FOOG Specific Plan Update are included below.

The zoning district naming conventions reflect their location within a specific plan (FOOG is used as the zone prefix) as well as the land uses allowed within that zone.

The proposed zoning districts would become effective once codified following Council adoption of the proposed FOOG Specific Plan Update. Figure 5 shows proposed zoning districts for the FOOG Specific Plan area.

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Figure 4 – Proposed FOOG Specific Plan Subareas
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Figure 5 – Proposed FOOG Specific Plan Zoning Districts Chapter 2: Project Description Fair Oaks Orange Grove Specific Plan Update Addendum to the Pasadena General Plan EIR September 2026

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Specific Plan Boundary
As discussed in Section 2.2, the proposed FOOG Specific Plan area is generally located along (1) Fair Oaks Avenue from Maple Street and the I-210 Freeway to the city limits just north of Montana Street, and (2) Orange Grove Boulevard from Oakland Avenue just east of Los Robles Avenue to Cypress Avenue just west of Lincoln Avenue. Specific modifications to the proposed plan boundary are described above in the Relationship to the 2015 General Plan section.

Land Use
The proposed updates to the FOOG Specific Plan would update zoning districts tailored to current community needs in alignment with the General Plan vision. The focus of the FOOG Specific Plan Update allows for financially feasible commercial and residential developments, and helps ensure that new buildings, streetscape improvements, and added amenities contribute positively to the pedestrian experience. This updated approach to land use regulation would support a mixed-use area that creates a range of opportunities for higher-density, transit-oriented development, served by multimodal linkages, and pedestrian open space amenities.

The FOOG Specific Plan Update would contain the following zones and corresponding objectives:
• Commercial Flex FOOG-CF – enhance the existing eclectic character with a variety of R&D, commercial recreation, custom manufacturing, and light industrial uses; ensure that future uses are compatible with the existing character.
• Mixed-Use Core (FOOG-MU-C) – create a mixed-use activity center near downtown and high-quality transit that accommodates a diverse range of retail and services, prioritizing housing opportunities where residents can walk to shops, restaurants, jobs, and school; support projects that are a mix of residential and commercial, integrated either horizontally or vertically consistent with ground floor use requirements.
• Mixed-Use Neighborhood (FOOG-MU-N) – promote the development of mixeduse, pedestrian-friendly neighborhood with a broad range of retail, services, and offices including medical, as well as multi-family and senior housing; support projects that are a mix of residential and commercial, integrated either horizontally or vertically consistent with ground floor use requirements. • Open Space (OS) – provide opportunities for parks and recreation to residents and visitors.
• Public Semi-Public (PS) – provide for large public or semi-public land uses that may not be appropriate in other base zoning districts.
• Planned Development (PD) – achieve a particular mix of uses and appearance through a design review process resulting in quality urban design on large sites.

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Mass and Scale, Intensity and Density
The General Plan 2015 Land Use Element designates intensities and density ranges in the FOOG Specific Plan area to support the vision of a series of pedestrian-oriented villages and districts with unique identities, bolstered by their vibrant mix of uses, amenities, and streetscapes. Updates included in the FOOG Specific Plan are intended to:
• Implement the General Plan density ranges, measured as dwelling units per acre (du/ac), and intensity by floor area ratios (FAR); • Shape development in a manner that creates a defined public realm and appropriate scale of buildings for a visually appealing community; • Reduce building massing through setback and stepback requirements that create appropriate transitions to residential neighborhoods; • Support high-quality architecture and urban design through modulation requirements and a height averaging incentive;
• Require appropriate transitions to designated historic resources; and • Support opportunities to increase housing near transit and require various unit sizes to support individuals and families.

The Specific Plan generally implements the allowed density (du/ac) ranges and intensity (FAR) set by the General Plan Land Use Diagram and regulates density within the maximum capacity studied by the General Plan EIR, with exceptions as noted in Section 2.4.1.

Urban Design
Design standards for ground floor frontages proposed by the FOOG Specific Plan Update would help refine building mass and scale and support high-quality architecture and urban design. Frontage standards would prioritize pedestrian access by ensuring doorways are open to a public sidewalk or other public space; increase visibility into ground floor uses to create visual interest for pedestrians; promote shade through arcades and shade structures; support a consistent character when different uses are allowed on the ground floor within the same black; and limit blank walls on the ground floor to enhance visual interest and pedestrian comfort. The proposed standards are established for each block and are complementary to the previously discussed land use permissions. In mixed-use districts, ground floor requirements are regulated by frontage type, with varying setback depths depending on the percentage of commercial or residential ground floor space to allow for common space and other amenities. A successful ground floor design would create an inviting, visually engaging, shaded sidewalk and pedestrian environment that supports the intended commercial, residential, or mixed-use character of each district. Proposed ground floor standards would reflect community interest to improve the pedestrian experience at the street-level based on the following parameters:
• Façade Modulation
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• Ground Floor Height
• Location of Primary Entrances
• Amount of Street-Facing Transparency
• Minimization of Blank Walls
Open Space
The proposed updates to the FOOG Specific Plan would include open space requirements that would support high quality, accessible and usable open space across a variety of types that contribute to an active public realm and successful building design. Residential open space would be required based on the number of bedrooms, which would result in larger units having a larger open space requirement.

Required open space may be private to individual units or common among tenants.

The amount of publicly accessible open space required is also based on the size of a proposed project. These changes are intended to expand the amount of open space available to residents and employees along the corridor.

Parking
Vehicle parking requirements proposed by the updates to the FOOG Specific Plan would lower the parking requirement for some commercial uses to allow more flexibility for business owners as uses change over time; these modified standards are designed to support economic stability and reduce vacancies through simplified regulation. Residential parking requirements would also be reduced in part of the plan area not exempt from parking requirements by State law. The FOOG Specific Plan further proposes as a future implementation action a Streetscape Program for the primary thoroughfares which could study the feasibility of modifying the cross-section of the street and potentially changing its on-street parking.

Public Realm & Setbacks
Public realm requirements proposed by the FOOG Specific Plan Update would improve sidewalk conditions and the pedestrian experience by ensuring that a minimum sidewalk width is achieved by reinforcing existing widths or requiring slight increases in key locations as new development occurs. The FOOG Specific Plan Update builds on the Pasadena Street Design Guide to ensure sufficient widths to create a sidewalk environment that supports functional activities.

The sidewalk width requirements would correlate with the level of activity and surrounding densities, intensities, and uses identified in the FOOG Specific Plan area and address community desire for wider sidewalks. New width requirements for sidewalk zones of at least 10-feet will support adequate space for street trees, parkways, pedestrian movement, and other amenities. The FOOG Specific Plan Update would require parkways and street trees to be provided by new development, and trees would be required to be planted in larger tree wells and follow new planting requirements to better support tree health.

As mentioned in the open space sub-section, some developments in the FOOG Specific Plan area are required to provide plazas or paseos, particularly near the major Chapter 2: Project Description Fair Oaks Orange Grove Specific Plan Update Addendum to the Pasadena General Plan EIR September 2026

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intersection of Fair Oaks Avenue and Orange Grove Boulevard, to meet requirements for publicly accessible open space. Proposed requirements and guidelines are intended to increase pedestrian connectivity and visual interest by reducing large block sizes and providing additional publicly accessible open space, improving walkability and creating safe spaces for pedestrian gathering and movement.

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CHAPTER 3

EVALUATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
The following evaluation assesses the environmental impacts of the proposed FOOG Specific Plan Update in relation to the analysis provided in the 2015 GP EIR.

Determinations are made as to whether the proposed project would result in new significant impacts or substantially more severe effects, which would trigger the need for a Subsequent or Supplemental EIR.

For each threshold identified below, the following questions are addressed and discussed in the narrative for each issue:

What is the FOOG Specific Plan Update’s impact conclusion? For each impact identified below, a level of significance of the impact is provided.

While criteria for determining significant impacts are unique to each issue area, the environmental analysis applies a uniform classification of the impacts based on the following definitions consistent with CEQA and its implementing CEQA Guidelines:
• No Impact (NI) – A designation of no impact is given when no changes in the environment would occur.
• Less than Significant Impact (LTS) – A less than significant impact would cause no substantial adverse change in the environment. • Less than Significant Impact with Mitigation (LTS-M) – A less than significant impact with mitigation incorporated avoids substantial adverse impacts on the environment with adherence to identified mitigation measures.

For those issue areas where the impact of the FOOG Specific Plan Update would be less than significant with the incorporation of the same mitigation measure(s) identified in the GP EIR, the impact is identified as LTS-M(GP).

The number of the mitigation measure from the MMRP will be referenced and summarized in Chapter 4.
• Significant and Unavoidable Impact (S-U) – A significant unavoidable impact would cause a substantial adverse effect on the environment, and no feasible mitigation measures would be available to reduce the impact to a less than significant level.

What is the GP EIR impact conclusion? The issues that were found to be either less than significant or were found to have no impact in the Initial Study prepared for the GP Update and were therefore excluded from further analysis in the GP EIR, are identified with (IS) after the impact conclusion.

Does the GOOFSP Update involve new significant impacts or substantially more severe impacts than those analyzed in the GP EIR?
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Are there any new or changed circumstances involving new significant impacts or substantially more severe impacts than those analyzed in the GP EIR? Is there any new information of substantial importance that was not and could not have been known at the time of certification of the GP EIR that rises to the level of requiring new analysis or verification?
Are any new mitigation measures required for the FOOG Specific Plan Update? Chapter 3: Evaluation of Environmental Impacts Fair Oaks Orange Grove Specific Plan Update Addendum to the Pasadena General Plan EIR September 2026

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