CIVIC CENTER TASK FORCE

December 2, 2017

HISTORY OF CIVIC CENTER PLANNING

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Original Pasadena City Halls

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Second Central Library

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Needs of a Growing City

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Civic Center Plan Conception

• 1921: State law changed to allow the issuance of a single bond for several municipal improvements in one group if city planning commission and voters determine that the improvements constitute a “City Plan” (later cited by the 1923 City Attorney as the primary reason for the ballot propositions to be discussed)

• April 1922: City Planning Commission created in Pasadena

• January 1923: Bennett, Parsons & Frost prepare for the Planning Commission a conceptual plan for the Civic Center

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1923 Conceptual Bennett Plan

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Close-up of Study Area

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Voter Funding Referendum • May 1923: City Council and Planning Commission work together to

initiate a special election to fund acquisition of specific tracts of land and construction of City Hall, Public Library and Municipal Auditorium.

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Neighborhood that would Become City Hall - 1910

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Legal Description of City Hall Properties

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City Plan Refinement

• Subsequent to passing of the propositions, a design competition was held for the three buildings.

• Bennett then met with the Planning Commission and the selected architects in late 1924 and revised the Civic Center Plan to reflect and respond to these designs.

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1925-1926 Bennett Plan

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Close-up of Study Area

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Narrative Bennett Plan Document

• Dated April 30, 1925

• Plan for entire City, not just Civic Center• History, current conditions, future expansion/development

• Streets and transportation

• Public buildings

• Parks & recreational facilities

• Execution

• The grouping of civic buildings

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Public Library, 1926

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Myron Hunt, Architect

City Hall & Holly Street, 1927

Bakewell & Brown, Architects

Civic Auditorium, 1933

18Bergstrom, Bennett & Haskell, Architects

Declining Conditions in Downtown

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Pasadena Central District Improvement Program, 1971

• Issues resulting in the plan (as cited in the plan):• Too much land committed to retail

• Little land available for new residential development

• Little new construction; older buildings deteriorating

• Some new office construction in 1960’s – desire to “sustain this renaissance”

• Completion of freeway slated for 1974 (700,000 people within 15 minute drive)

• Recent passing of $8 million bonds with $4.6 million to be spent in downtown

• Slated new development of Conference Center, hotels & mall

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Downtown Pasadena Urban Design Plan (1983)

• Issues resulting in the plan (as cited in the plan):• Major changes in downtown over last 10-15 years

• Loss of single-family residential neighborhoods

• Increased office and non-residential construction

• “Lack of distinctiveness” of new development

• CD Zoning District created

• Design guidelines & design review process created

• Development standards created for YWCA/YMCA parcels:• 50’ height limit

• 67.5’ setback from Garfield Avenue

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Civic Center Specific Plan, 1990 Amended, 1994• Effort initiated in 1987 in response to several new proposed

developments• Police Department

• YWCA

• Plaza las Fuentes

• Reconnect Civic Auditorium to Civic Center

• Established design guidelines for new buildings

• Development standards created for YWCA/YMCA parcels:• 62’ height limit

• 38’ setback from Garfield Avenue (with allowance for walled courtyard within setback area)

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Arcades (dark lines)

Bollards

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• Not a regulatory plan (no new height/setback regulations)

• Further development of urban design program for Civic Center

• Recommended amendments to Civic Center Specific Plan for specific development sites

• Design options for Centennial Square, re-opening view to Civic Auditorium

• Modification of “bunker-like” Conference Center buildings

• Parking, traffic & landscaping also addressed

• Focus on implementation and housing

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Civic Center/Mid-Town Programming Effort Report (“Grey Book”) 1998

Centennial Square Design Options

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Centennial Square Rendering

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• Not a regulatory plan (no new height/setback regulations)

• Continuation of efforts to develop an urban design program for Civic Center

• Focus on streetscape improvements, traffic and parking strategies and implementation

• Objectives• Reestablish and enhance City Beautiful plan• Encourage new buildings and public spaces of high quality design

• Create pedestrian and accessibility friendly environment

• Promote a distinctive mix of uses (retail, hotel, office, government, recreation, conference center, cultural, institutional, entertainment, housing)

• Enhance private investment

• Reflect acceptable sources of financing and create jobs

• Develop one or more key assets

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Pasadena Civic Center/Mid-town District Design Project: Refined Concept Plan (2001)

Pasadena Civic Center/Mid-town District Design Project: Refined Concept Plan (2001)

Pasadena Civic Center/Mid-town District Design Project: Design Development Plan (2003)

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PASADENA CIVIC CENTER HISTORIC

DISTRICTListed in National Register of Historic Places July 28, 1980

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Original Boundary & Contributing Resources

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Features Noted in District Description

• Dominance of City Hall dome

• Resemblance to unexecuted Chicago Plan by Daniel Burnham

• Path envisioned from Colorado Street Bridge to City Hall

• Axial configuration of buildings

• Buildings set back to allow for plantings

• Trees along Holly Street and Garfield

• Brick and concrete sidewalks

• Uneven length of north-south axis

• Features that distinguish the district from its surroundings• Less commercial, more park-like atmosphere• Wider streets & sidewalks; more trees; decorative paving• Small parks• Open plaza fronting City Hall• Careful planning evident• Buildings strongly relate to each other

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Historic Significance

• “Nationally significant example of civic art in the “City Beautiful” style of the 1920’s

• Buildings designed by nationally recognized architects

• Association with significant persons including George Ellery Hale, Edward Bennett, Myron Hunt, John Bakewell Jr., Arthur Brown Jr., Edwin Bergstrom, Cyril Bennett, Fitch Haskell, Oscar Wenderoth, Julia Morgan & Arthur Benton

• Nomination also discusses significance in areas of art and sculpture, education, law, military, music, political administration, religion, science, social humanitarianism, and theater.

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Subsequent Addendum

• Added All Saints Church and Maryland Apartments to the district boundary

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CURRENT APPLICABLE

REGULATIONSCentral District Specific Plan, 2004

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Central District Specific Plan 2004

• Replace Civic Center Specific Plan and other plans/reports prepared within the Central District (except 2003 Design Development Plan)

• Establish new land use designations and districts

• Encourage mixed use and transit-oriented development

• Focus new development into downtown; protect residential neighborhoods

• Develop concepts for open space, linkages, mobility

• Establish land use policies and design guidelines

• Remains in effect today

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CDSP Civic Center Planning Concepts

• Objective: “Strengthen [the district’s] role as the symbolic and governmental center of the City, encouraging the presence of civic, cultural and public service institutions, while augmenting the character of [the] area with a supportive mixture of uses.”

• Civic Center Core Precinct (B-1) Primary Goal: “The design of all buildings and public spaces in this precinct should reflect the highest quality, respect the prominence of civic landmark buildings, and reinforce the vision of the Bennett Plan.”

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CDSP Civic Center Linkage Concept

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CDSP Civic Center Open Space Concept

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Other Relevant CDSP Civic Center Planning Concepts• Civic Identity: land uses predominantly civic, cultural and public

service, with a complementary mix of commercial and residential to add vitality to the area.

• “City Beautiful” Vision: realization of vision through:• Preservation of historically significant buildings

• New buildings that are complementary to existing landmarks

• Reintegration of Beaux-Arts axial plan

• Major Public Spaces: investment in public space should enhance public gathering spaces including areas in front of major civic buildings as envisioned in the Bennett Plan and specifically Centennial Square, which should accommodate civic events

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Other Relevant CDSP Civic Center Planning Concepts• Visual and Physical Connections: Enhance connections though

streetscape, walkway, and open space improvements, and preservation of key axes.

• Civic-minded Architecture: “New buildings should exhibit permanence and quality, as well as respect the dominance and monumentality of major civic buildings, and the scale and form of existing historic structures. In general, site buildings in a manner that defines streets, permitting courtyards and formal open spaces interior to the block.”

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CDSP Zoning Code Allowable Land Uses

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Uses Permitted by Right Uses Permitted with Approval of a Conditional

Use Permit

Residential Uses

Boarding houses Dormitories

Mixed-use projects Fraternities/sororities

Urban housing Residential care, general

Residential care, limited Single-room occupancy

Supportive housing

Transitional housing

Recreation, Education & Public Assembly Uses

Colleges, non-traditional campus setting Clubs, lodges, private meeting halls

Cultural institutions Colleges, traditional campus setting

Religious facilities (including those with

columbarium and/or homeless shelters)

Commercial entertainment (expressive use permit

required)

Specialized education & training schools Commercial recreation (indoor or outdoor)

Conference centers

Electronic game centers

Internet access studios

Park and recreation facilities

Public or private schools

Office, Professional & Business Support Uses

Banks

Business support services

Offices (professional, government, R&D or

medical)

Work/live units

Uses Permitted by Right Uses Permitted with Approval of a

Conditional Use Permit

Retail Sales

Food sales Alcohol sales

Internet vehicle sales Bars or taverns (including with live

entertainment)

Restaurants Convenience stores

Retail sales (including seasonal) Liquor stores

Pawn shops

Vehicle rental

Vehicle sales and leasing, limited

Services

Adult day-care, limited Adult day-care, general

Animal grooming Ambulance services

Catering services Charitable institutions

Child day care centers Emergency shelters

Filming, short-term Filming, long-term

Laboratories Life/care facilities

Maintenance or repair services Lodging (B&B’s, hotels, motels)

Personal improvement services Public safety facilities

Personal services

Printing and publishing, limited

Industry, Manufacturing & Processing Uses

Industry, restricted, small-scale Industry, restricted

Research & development (non-offices)

Transportation, Communications & Utility Uses

Minor utility Commercial off-street parking

CDSP Zoning Code Development StandardsDevelopment Feature CDSP Requirement

Floor Area Ratio (FAR) Maximum 2.25 FAR:

YWCA block: appx. 189,159 square feet

(YWCA is 40,570 square feet)

YMCA block: appx. 98,010 square feet

(excluding YMCA property itself)

Setbacks (Non-Residential)

Marengo Avenue 0’ minimum; 5’ maximum

Holly Street 10’ minimum

Garfield Avenue 10’ minimum

Union Street 0’ minimum; 5’ maximum

Ramona Street 0’ minimum; 5’ maximum

Setbacks (Residential)

Marengo Avenue 5’ minimum; 10’ maximum

Holly Street 10’ minimum

Garfield Avenue 10’ minimum

Union Street 5’ minimum; 10’ maximum

Ramona Street 5’ minimum; 10’ maximum

Height 60’ (height averaging not allowed)

Density 87 units/acre:

YWCA block: appx. 174 units

YMCA block: appx. 87 units (excluding YMCA

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Comparison of Garfield Setback & Height Limits in Previous & Current Plans

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Plan Garfield Setback Height

Bennett Plan – 1923 55’ - 60’ Not specified

Bennett Plan – 1925-26 25’ Not specified

Downtown Pasadena Urban Design Plan

67.5’ 50’

Civic Center Specific Plan 38’ 62’

Central District Specific Plan

10’ 60’

Existing Building Heights (Approximate)

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Design Review

• Required in Central District for all new buildings, major and minor alterations to existing buildings and storefronts, and new signs.

• Design guidelines in the Central District Specific Plan are used when evaluating project designs

• Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation also used for projects affecting designated or eligible historic resources, including contributing structures in historic or landmark districts

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CIVIC CENTER TASK FORCE

December 2, 2017