Pasadena, California Celebrating 56 years of community service Summer 2018 LAND USE / PLANNING EDUCATION OPEN SPACE / CONSERVATION NEIGHBORHOOD SAFETY GOVERNMENT PARKS / RECREATION Housing, planning experts react to state threat to local control By Justin Chapman Development Department; and Sue Mossman, which are impediments to housing. In Secretary, WPRA executive director of Pasadena Heritage. Pasadena we feel the brunt of that even At the May 2 West Pasadena Residents’ What follows are excerpts from the discussion. though we do a great job. We’re one of a few cities — and one of the first in the Association’s 56th annual meeting, a panel of Mic Hansen: Many cities, including local housing and planning experts expressed region — to have an inclusionary housing Pasadena, are concerned about the ordinance [which benefits medium- to concern that recent state laws have to a large recent spate of state housing legislation degree usurped local governments’ ability low-income families]. We plan and zone that takes away local control. Why for multifamily development in the city in to determine the character of their own is the state legislature doing this? communities. appropriate places. The state, however, is William Huang: State legislators have looking at it from a statewide issue. What “These housing issues are going to be with us determined that there is a severe housing we’re also seeing is development standards for a long, long time,” said Mayor Terry Tornek crisis in the state. One of the primary severely tipped in the favor of developers before the panel discussion began. “The reasons is there’s a supply-and-demand and property owners who are building difficulties facing us — the escalating rents, the imbalance. So the legislature is trying multifamily developments that qualify disagreements over appropriate densities, the to remove barriers to bring back some for state density bonus laws that increase invasive oppressive state legislation that is being balance between supply and demand. One density but not for affordable housing. introduced, homelessness, all of this in the face of the perceived barriers has to do with Hansen: How do you see these state- of a tough city financial circumstance — really local discretionary approvals, and so many mandated bills affecting preservation? makes this a fraught subject, one that consumes of their housing bills, be it some of the Sue Mossman: bigger and bigger chunks of city time.” recently passed housing bills or some bills We have worked so that were proposed but did not pass, tried hard in Pasadena to build reasonable, WPRA board member and Land Use/Planning rational plans to accommodate growth, chair, and former Pasadena Planning to either eliminate, bypass, or limit local control and approvals. to encourage some affordable housing. Commission member Mic Hansen moderated In fact, in the region we provide more David Reyes: In 2017, 15 housing bills a panel featuring William Huang, director affordable housing than do many were proposed and passed. I expect more of the city of Pasadena’s Housing and Career surrounding communities. It feels like we in the future. Some cities in California Services Department; David Reyes, director of should get credit for that. It feels like we have quite complex approval processes, the city of Pasadena’s Planning and Community should continue to have some control over where and how that happens. I don’t have the solution. I share the angst. Now it feels somehow that we’re being punished in a way for having held on to the beauty, the quality and the character of our city. Continued on page 10 Recognition for a job done well done. During the 2018 West Pasadena Residents’ Association annual meeting on May 2, former WPRA president and current director Bill Urban, left, presents former WPRA president and long-time director Fred Zepeda with a Community Service Award for his many years of “dedication and service to the WPRA, our neighborhoods and our city. Zepeda will continue to serve the WPRA through the newly formed advisory council (see article on page 2). (Photo by Chuck Hudson) WPRA IN MOTION Stand up, speak up and get involved By Dan Beal as VRBO and airbnb. Another example is the influx of new State President, WPRA As the City grappled laws that are forcing on all cities one-size- he West Pasadena Residents’ with how to regulate fits-all community planning and land-use Association is made up entirely of them and learned from requirements. Some of these new laws seek Tvolunteers. They are dedicated to hundreds of different to increase the inventory and density of bettering Pasadena and, in many cases, are plans enacted by cities homes and specifically encourage increased expressing their passion for a specific topic all over the world, the affordable housing, often using proximity such as land use or education or open space or Dan Beal WPRA was engaged to transit as a lever. These laws may mean crime or traffic. The WPRA is at its best and throughout this effort well, and we all recognize the need for more most effective when it harnesses this energy, and conducted a resident survey garnering an housing, but they also would reduce or even knowledge and dedication. So, my first impressive 600 responses. This input — your eliminate our ability to shape the nature and message to you, as the new WPRA president, input — helped shape the outcome and the quality of our neighborhoods. The WPRA will is to encourage you to stand up, speak up, and resulting ordinance, which was tailored for continue to participate in this difficult and get involved. Pasadena. Continued on page 12 Many of us, of course, share a love for Pasadena’s history, architecture, culture WPRA forms advisory council and open space. And although some recent changes have been distressing, changes are The West Pasadena Residents’ Association The council will meet at least twice a year: inevitable. The scope and type of changes, has established an advisory council once as a council and a second time in a joint however, are largely within our power to consisting of past directors and others, meeting with the Board. Former WPRA influence. as determined by the WPRA Board. The president and current director Vince Farhat advisory council was formed as a way to will serve as the liaison between the Board and Several recent examples of this come to continue to tap into the expertise of past the council, which comprises former WPRA mind. The first is the international explosion directors so the Board can better address presidents Geoffrey Baum and Fred Zepeda, of short-term rentals through such outfits neighborhood and city-wide issues. and former WPRA director Catherine Stringer. About us 2018 – 2019 officers 2018 – 2019 board of directors Dan Beal Bill Christian ([email protected]) Evan Davis Avram Gold Vince Farhat, past president The News is mailed each quarter to ([email protected]) Sarah Gavit nearly 8,000 homes and businesses in the Blaine Cavena Ken Grobecker 91105 and 91103 ZIP codes and beyond. ([email protected]) Mic Hansen ([email protected]) Justin Chapman Land use, Planning Editor: Chuck Hudson ([email protected]) Joan Hearst ([email protected]) Chuck Hudson Mission: P. O. Box 50252 Founded in 1962, the West Susan Kinney Pasadena Residents’ Association is dedicated to Pasadena, CA 91115-0252 maintaining the character of our community and Priscilla Taylor enhancing the quality of life in west Pasadena. Bill Urban, past president The West Pasadena Residents’ Association is a 501(c)(3) non-profit Area: The WPRA service area is bounded on Nancy Walker the north by Colorado Boulevard, on the east by Linda Zinn ([email protected]) public benefit corporation. Fair Oaks Avenue and on the south and west by Membership, Open Space & the city limits. ________________________________ Conservation Funding: All WPRA activities are funded Visit our website at wpra.net through membership dues and contributions. Visit our Facebook page The WPRA receives no public funding and has no paid employees. Since the WPRA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit public benefit corporation, contributions and donations are fully deductible to the extent permitted by law. The News 2 Summer 2018 The News 3 Summer 2018 BREAKING NEWS BRIEFS 710 tunnel is only ‘mostly dead’ Marijuana ballot By Sarah Gavit EIR, which provide further analysis of the measures pass; now what? Director, WPRA impacts to historical properties. These documents finally acknowledge that the tunnel On June 5, Pasadena voters approved s described by Miracle Max (Billy alternative will result in adverse effects to ballot measures CC and DD. Measure Crystal) in the movie The Princess historic properties — some very large effects CC, which received 59.9% of the vote, ABride, there is a difference between to such properties as the Sequoyah School, permits a limited number of cannabis being mostly dead and all dead. Mostly dead Ambassador Auditorium and Markham Place (marijuana) retailers, cultivators and is still slightly alive. There’s no way better to Historic District. Unfortunately, these analyses testing labs to operate within specific describe the 710 tunnel project. are still grossly deficient in addressing major zoning areas in the City. Measure DD, Many think the tunnel alternatives were killed concerns such as soil subsidence, breakdowns which received 75.5% of the vote, levies when in May of last year LA Metro withdrew of tunnel boring machines, vibration impacts, a business license tax on commercial funding for them. While lack of immediate blasting and noise. cannabis businesses of up to $10/canopy funding is a great impediment to tunnel square foot (for cultivation) and between survival, the threat still looms, and the battle We can only conclude that mostly dead remains an unsatisfactory state of being.