Pasadena Moves to Annex Portion of Colorado Blvd., Adjoining Land

A six-block portion of Colorado Boulevard and several adjoining blocks of unincorporated land east of Pasadena have been targeted for annexation by city officials.

“Colorado Boulevard is really the gateway to the city,” said Judy Weiss, assistant to Pasadena’s city manager.

City planners say they will improve lighting and fire protection in the area, as well as other benefits to residents and businesses, if the effort is successful.

The area, which extends from Halstead Street to Rosemead Boulevard, already has been designated as part of Pasadena’s “sphere of influence” by the Local Agency Formation Commission, giving the city the go-ahead to apply for annexation rights. The northern boundary is generally along the Foothills Freeway, and the southern boundary, less clearly defined, extends along lots south of Colorado Boulevard.

If most of the area’s registered voters or property owners agree to the plan, Pasadena will gain an estimated $400,000 in sales tax revenues from the largely commercial strip, as well as a share of property taxes and transient occupancy tax revenues from hotels in the area.

There are 95 registered voters and about 70 separate land parcels in the area, including four motels, a plumbing supply store and a Circuit City outlet. City personnel did not have figures on total residents.

According to Local Agency Formation Commission Director Ruth Benell, the annexation process can be initiated either by a Board of City Directors resolution or by petitions from 5% of the voters or 5% of the property owners in the area.

The commission then will hold a hearing, after which it can either kill the annexation attempt or send it on to a board hearing.

Board action is dictated totally by the number of written protests the city directors receive, Benell said. If fewer than 25% of the area’s voters and landlords protest, the board can automatically approve annexation.

If 25% to 49% of the voters or landlords protest, the issue must go to a referendum. If 50% or more of the voters protest, the annexation attempt is automatically defeated.

Weiss said that Pasadena would make significant improvements in fire protection for the area.

“Our fire station is right around the corner from the area,” she said. “Now, the area is served by Temple City. With improved fire service, insurance rates will come down significantly.”

She said Pasadena also would improve water pressure by upgrading fire hydrants and it place street light cables underground.

Weiss said that the city will proceed with the plan “sometime in the next few months.”

“Colorado Boulevard is more than a one-day-a-year street for us,” she said. “It’s our Main Street.”