Pasadena OKs Changes in General Plan

The Pasadena City Council has revised two elements of the city’s General Plan in an effort to protect neighborhoods and direct commercial and industrial development to certain parts of the city.

The revised land-use element unanimously approved by the council Tuesday night downzoned some single-family neighborhoods to preserve their character and increased allowable density in other neighborhoods.

“It’s an attempt to help neighborhoods . . . to direct development so there are like needs in targeted areas,” Vice Mayor Kathryn Nack said.

The land-use plan dovetails into the so-called mobility element, a transportation development plan that also won council approval.

The areas targeted for growth will be near public transportation, including the Blue Line light-rail system, which is under construction. Councilman Isaac Richard was absent for the vote.

City officials made the changes in accord with an out-of-court settlement of a 1990 lawsuit against the voter-approved Growth Management Initiative. Business owners and minority groups initiated the lawsuit, saying the GMI, which placed annual limits on commercial and residential development, was stifling commercial growth in the city.

City officials held more than 50 public forums, workshops and other informational meetings to gather testimony on the General Plan changes, officials said. About 3,000 residents attended.

Some property owners argued for zoning changes that would limit development and put a lid on traffic and other crowding problems. Others opposed zoning changes that would limit the development potential and value of their properties.

Projected new development under the plan through the year 2010 includes 6,104 new housing units, mostly apartments, 6.3 million square feet of new commercial development and 1.7 million square feet of new industrial development.

The commercial development is to center on Colorado Boulevard throughout the city. Most of the industrial development is to take place in East Pasadena on both sides of the 210 Freeway, east of Altadena Drive.