The South Pasadena Planning Commission is holding a special public hearing tonight, April 29, 2025, at 6:30 PM to consider recommendations to the City Council regarding significant amendments aimed at promoting housing development within the city. The hearing, taking place in the Amedee O. “Dick” Richards Jr. Council Chambers and accessible via Zoom, focuses on proposed changes to the General Plan, Housing Element, Downtown Specific Plan (DTSP), and Zoning Code/Map. These changes address building height limits, residential density, development standards, and housing overlay boundaries, largely stemming from the implementation of the City’s certified 6th Cycle Housing Element and the voter approval of Measure SP in November 2024.
Key Proposed Amendments
The commission will review recommendations intended to establish building heights that align with allowable residential densities, particularly in mixed-use zones and the Housing Opportunity Overlay Zone. This follows Measure SP’s passage, which enables the City Council to adopt height limits appropriate for meeting the City’s Regional Housing Need Assessment (RHNA) goals.
Key highlights of the proposed amendments include:
- Downtown Specific Plan (DTSP): Reducing density in the Fair Oaks Corridor Zone to 90 dwelling units/acre (du/acre) with a maximum height of 70 feet.
- Setting density at 50 du/acre and height at 45 feet for the Mission Street portion west of Orange Grove Avenue.
- Maintaining 70 du/acre density but establishing a 60-foot height limit for the remaining Mixed Use Core Zone properties.
- Removing certain courtyard dimension minimums and other restrictions for buildings over 45 feet.
- Zoning Ordinance and Map:
- Establishing a 60-foot height limit in the Mixed-Use Overlay District.
- Amending standards for setbacks, stepbacks, maximum upper floor sizes, landscaping, open space, and minimum unit sizes in the Mixed-Use Overlay.
- Allowing specific rooftop equipment exceptions and height averaging for projects including affordable housing.
- Removing the Housing Opportunity Overlay (HOO) from most RM (Residential Moderate density) parcels, except those identified in the suitable sites inventory.
- General Plan and Housing Element:
- Aligning General Plan height references with the DTSP and Zoning Code changes.
- Correcting tables in the Housing Element (like Table VI-51, now VI-53) to accurately reflect RHNA capacity calculations and document Measure SP implementation.
These adjustments aim to “right-size” allowable densities to better reflect the City’s RHNA allocation and community input gathered through extensive outreach, while ensuring sufficient capacity for required housing. An addendum to the previously certified Program Environmental Impact Report (PEIR) has also been prepared pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) to address these amendments.
Public Participation Encouraged
Residents are invited to attend the hearing either in person at the Council Chambers (1424 Mission Street) or remotely via Zoom https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83530439651 (Meeting ID: 835 3043 9651). Public comment guidelines allow for participation in person or via Zoom’s “raise hand” feature. Written comments could also be submitted prior to the meeting.
The Planning Commission’s recommendations from this hearing will be forwarded to the South Pasadena City Council for further public hearings and final consideration, tentatively scheduled for June 2025. The full agenda packet with detailed information on the proposed amendments is available on the City’s website.
