The Sares Regis/Westgate Project by Fred Zepeda He Draft Environmental Timpact Report (DEIR) for the Sares Regis Project Has Arrived
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
EWS NWest Pasadena Residents’ Association Pasadena, California established 1962a Winter 2006 The Sares Regis/Westgate Project By Fred Zepeda he Draft Environmental TImpact Report (DEIR) for the Sares Regis project has arrived. The project is being called Westgate Pasadena. It is big. Some development of this property is necessary but this project is too big. This project is the largest residential project Pasadena has ever had. In square feet of development, this pro- ject is larger than any commercial high rise building in the City. Yet according to the DEIR, the project’s 5,851 daily trips will not cause any significant impact to intersections. On 11.94 acres, bound by Green Street on the north, Delacey Avenue twice as big as the Del Mar Station on the east, Del Mar Boulevard on project. They propose 26 buildings the south and Pasadena Avenue on varying in height from three to five the west, they propose 820 residen- stories. The Average density is 65 tial units and 22,154 square feet of dwelling units per acre over all three retail space. This project is more than blocks. This is three times the size of the Treo development (between ALSO IN THIS ISSUE Colorado, El Molino, Union and Changes in the PUSD . .2 Madison). provide all the inclusionary units on President’s Message . .3 The majority of the Sares Regis site? They say that construction Thank You to Our Donors . .4 residential units, 480 or 60%, would would take 30 months. That esti- Remembering Harold Sadring . .6 be rentals. The remaining 340 units mate is probably their best guess would be for sale. The plan calls for barring any financial, construction Transportation Update . .7 1,693 underground parking spaces. or other complications. Think 3 years Solving Neighborhood Nuisances . .8 The Inclusionary Housing Ordinance of construction traffic, lane closures, Calling All Neighborhood Groups . .8 requires that 15% of all newly barricades and flagmen on Del Mar HMH Outpatient Services Pavilion . .9 constructed dwelling units be sold or and Green. Neighborhood Compatibility . .10 rented to low or moderate income The DEIR cites five impacts that La Loma Bridge Project . .10 households, the Sares Regis project even after all mitigations are applied proposes to provide 85 inclusionary still remain significant. The surpris- Mayfield Senior School . .11 units and pay in-lieu fees for the ing thing is that traffic is not one Board of Directors / Phone Numbers . .12 other 35 units. Why can’t they continued on page 2 that this DEIR and City staff situated within the building clusters. The Sares Regis/ conclude that all these intersections Where will the kids play? Westgate Project are currently at a satisfactory LOS Many other troubling questions and how 5,851 new car trips will not persist and WPRA will pursue all of Continued from front page negatively impact these intersections. them in an attempt to highlight all of them. The DEIR studied 42 The General Plan and the Central the neighborhood concerns in the intersections around the project and District Specific Plan each call for a hope that our City Council will only determines that all are currently mixed use “Urban Village” on this approve a project that is properly operating at satisfactory Levels of site. This project is not an Urban sized and designed to complement Service (LOS) and that the additional Village. It is primarily residential and add to our neighborhood. 5,851 daily trips this project will add with no commercial space so that If you would like to follow this to our streets somehow will only people can live close to where they project or if you will like to ask significantly impact one intersection. work. The existing street and alley your own questions, the Planning That intersection is Pasadena Avenue grid is maintained so that vehicle Commission will have a hearing on and Del Mar. usage is not inhibited. The proposed this project on February 22nd at Somehow Del Mar at Fair Oaks walkways within the project are 6:15 pm at the Pasadena Conference and Del Mar at Raymond would not aligned with the street grid, and Center, 300 E. Green Street in the be significantly impacted. Somehow while they effectively move tenants Gold Room (Room 211). The DEIR these 5,851 daily trips would not from their residence to their car they can be found on the City’s website in significantly impact the intersections are not “meandering and inviting the Commissions and Committee’s of Pasadena Avenue and Green or pedestrian walkways”. The required section at http://www.cityofpasadena. Green and Fair Oaks. West Pasadena Open Space and Park Space seem to net/planning/environmental/Westgate/ Residents’ Association (WPRA) will be made up almost entirely of tenant WestgateHome.asp. I be asking questions about how it is walkways and a couple of small areas Changes in the PUSD By Mary Dee Romney y default, the Pasadena Closing Schools Eliminating PUSD’s Police BUnified School District now PUSD’s Board of Education voted Force is resorting to a “revenue in December to close Noyes and PUSD’s in-house policing opera- enhancement” plan, one that will Edison elementary schools in tions will cease the end of January involve selling or leasing school sites. Altadena, Allendale elementary 2006. Tentative plans to partner with The PUSD operates, through school in West Pasadena and Linda other agencies are being considered. “trustee” oversight by the Board of Vista elementary school – with site Education, approximately 270 acres closures both at Linda Vista and at Planning for Designated of publicly-owned school properties Audubon (in Altadena). More Surplus Property into which, over recent years, closures are anticipated for the The PUSD is required by state millions of dollars of school improve- 2007-08 school year. statute to establish a “7-11 Committee” ment bond funds have been invested. to publicly evaluate and identify The value these properties hold for Cutting Bus Transportation unused district properties. future education needs of local fami- “Remote” busing for general edu- For those interested in discussing lies requires serious and competent cation students has been eliminated ongoing PUSD issues, contact short-term and long-term analysis while retaining “safety” runs for Mary Dee Romney at mdromney before any action is taken. As reported outlying areas, with limited services @sbcglobal.net for more informa- I recently in the Pasadena Star-News, to certain sites and MTA passes for tion. such analysis has been in short supply. older students. Special education What to watch for over the coming students will continue to receive months as decisions are made for transportation services as required PUSD’s 2006-07 school year: by law. 2 President’s Message By Dorothy Lindsey ore than anything else, replaced with high-rise, high- What can residents do to MPasadena is defined by the density apartment projects. Noise preserve and protect our quality of life of our neigh- and air pollution are on the rise. quality of life? borhoods. We are truly fortunate to With all the talk around City As individuals acting alone, not live in one of the most beautiful, Hall about building “urban much. Working together, however, historic and diverse communities in villages,” many of the new develop- we can send a loud message to City Southern California. ment projects in Pasadena seem to Hall that we want balanced and The WPRA supports thoughtful be all urban and no village! thoughtful development that will development that is consistent with The most recent (and disturbing) honor our past while building a the density and scale of our historic example of this trend is the better future. neighborhoods. And we support Westgate Project, a proposed The WPRA is your voice. With the goal of expanding public transit 800-unit apartment project on the your active involvement, WPRA so residents can get around town east side of the former Ambassador can and will make a positive without cars. College campus. Adjacent to the difference for Pasadena. But, our quality of life is threat- shopping district in Old Pasadena, Please join WPRA and lend your ened by the negative aspects of the Westgate Project contains only time and talents for the betterment Pasadena’s recent building boom. two percent commercial space and of our community. Call (626) Pasadena’s streets are seemingly would be two times bigger than the 441-1388 or visit www.wpra.net choked with traffic. Commercial Del Mar Gold Line project. today! I parcels and restaurants are being " Join the WPRA Today All membership dues are tax-deductible, and donations of $75 or more are acknowledged in this newsletter. Please take a moment to complete this form and mail it with your check today! Name _________________________________________________________________________________________ Address ________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________ Phone ( _________ ) ______________________________ E-Mail _______________________________________ L Associate $25-$49 L Patron $75-$99 L Neighborhood Protection Fund L Friend $50-$74 L Benefactor $100-$249 L Platinum $250 or more Please mail to: West Pasadena Residents’ Association Post Office Box 50252 Pasadena, California 91115 3 Thank You WPRA Arroyo Protection Fund May 2005 - February 2006 The WPRA Board of Directors thanks the following very generous donors for their quick action and generous support of the Arroyo Protection Fund. These monies have been used to fund our opposition to the NFL at the Rose Bowl and to advocate on behalf of the Arroyo Seco. Over 30% of the checks for the Arroyo Protection Fund came from Pasadena citizens outside of the 91105 area. We thank you from the bottom of our heart. The response to our requests for funds from Pasadena residents was beyond our expectations and shows the tremendous interest that our neighborhoods have in preserving the historic Rose Bowl and the surrounding parkland for future generations.