[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6236112,"mediaKeyId","3378817-c34be6bb8e6414e69b10a9319382d6fe","parentId",3378817,"title","Commission backs ordinance amendments to clarify chair-review thresholds and HRE applicability","audioSeconds",629,"startMs",3206000,"endMs",3835000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3378817-c34be6bb8e6414e69b10a9319382d6fe&start=3206&end=3835","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3378817-c34be6bb8e6414e69b10a9319382d6fe/thumbnail_3206000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6236112/South-Pasadena-City/Los-Angeles-County/California/Commission-backs-ordinance-amendments-to-clarify-chair-review-thresholds-and-HRE-applicability","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6236112-ce9e5d971511941a2a83e8ecd65f34c8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771206167&Signature=ed2PO-7djv~KCx~-4DyzDaHB9HdtWKxb6wWIQDtm80y90U03KzvrkHXo5cGNPHBuXMuzwUYuek0wWLWfJRUlH7J0KceNiX~Gr1Z6wOKHGmVUNkpGSFZUKXoCccPKfRNW5Lok2BSpsD2-wRqc99GpzheRJ0q7r77t6sUQ19rBf~Tj1a65dYs8kWX6N2WRvDEpxwq1yqqtUwufGm7h3DWWYx8ro4puJp8Zm9YbqzHBGAqsNqI25zcLTANU5njZqFDE3X2aimKRSt2Zin5qEd5qZZJAywZBorLBNIt5BCfXjPJJRLtr-WKQuPYBxeszjT2CO68EE4uFMwsBrFxxbofkhA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of South Pasadena, California","date","2025-05-19T15:24:27Z","article","The Cultural Heritage Commission voted to recommend city council adopt proposed amendments to the municipal ordinance that clarify thresholds for chair review of Certificates of Appropriateness and narrow the applicability of intensive historic resource evaluations (HREs) for certain accessory‑structure demolitions.

Staff told the commission the draft amendments arose from earlier commission review and City Council direction following public comment. Key revisions presented to the commission included: extending the validity period of an approved Certificate of Appropriateness from 18 to 24 months to match other zoning entitlements; adding an on‑site noticing requirement for hearings; and changing the chair‑review threshold for additions on historic properties to “500 square feet or 25% of the existing square footage of the home, whichever is less,” so that the threshold applies proportionally to both large and small houses. Staff also clarified the ordinance language about HREs: the revision narrows exemptions to apply only to non‑historic accessory structures (for example, a non‑historic garage) so those limited scenarios do not require an intensive HRE, while properties already identified as potential cultural resources would still require the full HRE where applicable.

Staff reported it had met with a public commenter, Debbie Howell, after the council hearing to review concerns and had incorporated clarifying language; Ms. Howell later provided written comments supporting the revised language. Commissioners said the changes addressed prior concerns, and a motion to forward the amended ordinance language to the City Council carried on roll call.

Staff noted the director retains discretion to require a full commission review even where chair review would otherwise apply. The revised language for the chair‑review threshold mirrors an approach the city already uses for design review: a hybrid metric of a fixed square‑foot threshold combined with a percent‑of‑existing‑area limit. The commission will forward the recommended ordinance amendments to City Council for consideration.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Cultural Heritage Commission Meeting 5/15/2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Cultural Heritage Commission voted to recommend that City Council adopt revisions to the commission ordinance to adjust chair‑review square‑foot thresholds, require on‑site noticing, extend COA validity to 24 months and narrow HRE applicability for non‑historic accessory structures.","taxTitle","South Pasadena City, Los Angeles County, California","taxId",70853,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6236117,"Commission reviews Mills Act application and rehabilitation plan for 1000 Buena Vista Street",427,2578000,3005000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3378817-c34be6bb8e6414e69b10a9319382d6fe&start=2578&end=3005","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3378817-c34be6bb8e6414e69b10a9319382d6fe/thumbnail_2578000.jpg","/articles/6236117/South-Pasadena-City/Los-Angeles-County/California/Commission-reviews-Mills-Act-application-and-rehabilitation-plan-for-1000-Buena-Vista-Street","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6236117-82d9d45d6c406db5d73d5785a24549d2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771206167&Signature=lphSRRRnRlFZTwTLXvRlxzQYInY4m5eQkrmWK51F82D2-9JKhIJG1mSHoP-9yl~gA0mdE5e65H4iULu58yvlxKsqXgthalLXRRHwAzZvLmpMUII7xzjjAoOLBly-vaNCVUxPdom2mjDlU~aT-Cueo8exHbMcqtnnvcuW4T~n9sAdXJGgyXBdps3wVg5sPFXk353I5Axce5iHLFoQOqDpN3iOLFx-lwqMFbJKekhujkvzmc6mnk8e-ivw~aZrQPdOXJVmuzB4XQ6GbQNvMz3LRYRIF4VVu8cFN7niAYPkG~pUGEWq7-gGIcRHn~ak718OlxfxhItSG4EEpLR2-~IGkA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Cultural Heritage Commission reviewed a Mills Act application and the applicant’s 10-year rehabilitation work plan for 1000 Buena Vista Street, a large Craftsman-era building listed on the California Register and eligible for Mills Act contract status.

Staff said the two-story, 7,158-square-foot building (built 1903) is in the Buena Vista historic district and carries a status code of 2B, making it eligible for Mills Act consideration. The rehabilitation plan submitted with the application outlines seven major tasks to be completed over a proposed ten-year contract (2025–2035): structural retrofit; chimney repairs; a complete electrical upgrade; geotechnical evaluation and stabilization of a river-rock porch retaining wall; roof repairs; re‑window rehabilitation for numerous nonoperable windows; and exterior wood repairs and rehabilitation.

Staff presented estimated fiscal figures: total estimated cost of work $610,000; estimated tax savings to the property owner over ten years $591,781; and an estimated city cost (foregone tax revenue) of approximately $153,080 over the ten-year term. Staff told the commission the application meets Mills Act eligibility criteria (location in a local district and listing on the California or National Register), and summarized the application timeline: letter of intent filed in January, formal application filed in March, and a site visit with a subcommittee on April 22.

Commissioners who visited the property praised the owners’ rehabilitation effort; Chair Lopez said a site visit confirmed the scope and that the property “is a great example” of local architecture deserving support. Staff said the commission’s role at this meeting was to provide comments and suggestions; the commission will vote at its next regular meeting to make a formal recommendation to the City Council, and the council will review the contract within the municipal code timeline (commission recommendation no later than June 30; council action no later than Sept. 30, per staff summary).

No formal recommendation to council was made at the review meeting; staff and the owners remained available to answer questions and to supply additional documentation to support the application ahead of the commission’s formal vote.","The Cultural Heritage Commission reviewed a Mills Act contract application and a 10-year rehabilitation work plan for a 1903 Craftsman building at 1000 Buena Vista Street, finding it eligible for the contract and providing comments ahead of a recommendation to the City Council.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6236122,"Commission approves two-story addition at 1001 Garfield Avenue after design discussion",1315,1318000,2633000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3378817-c34be6bb8e6414e69b10a9319382d6fe&start=1318&end=2633","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3378817-c34be6bb8e6414e69b10a9319382d6fe/thumbnail_1318000.jpg","/articles/6236122/South-Pasadena-City/Los-Angeles-County/California/Commission-approves-two-story-addition-at-1001-Garfield-Avenue-after-design-discussion","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6236122-b0141dad2397005ea5dab6a2e345ecce/orig.mp4?Expires=1771206167&Signature=Ulg0t2wS5QT4WoJvKhpwv2i4Kyx0x4VeRDkB57L-URpmYwbwoA40VAwmJxTiRjt1RZJ6gFYSzKUVJ9wG6TNYVTKUBKxh9NBCADquZoDgwXh0o-4KIdSowsfXsG1F~sVh2Kr8FIfRQjVt3-Xo8OOmgr0-5xvDLFr0eoeeNHzHsOxlj4U1c8AqeYg67rsW4XoRJP9xZdei4Dkr9baAQkZMjC87PmF8cks9OSKJzFS53DWq9WXCzK0spAdUc1F7o2j5iQ2uvemJDTkeN~PjGRHWPkaq~dCnbc3iS1uzfGu3m81S94lwegGERRrSACAi5tE2gq18d2twsyXAYrZJQ6XUSg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The South Pasadena Cultural Heritage Commission approved a certificate of appropriateness for a 211-square-foot first-floor addition and a 797-square-foot second-floor addition at 1001 Garfield Avenue.

Staff presented the proposal for a property listed as a contributor to the Southeast Mission Craftsman Historic District: a 1,441-square-foot single-story Craftsman home built in 1911 on a 9,140-square-foot corner lot. The project was redesigned in collaboration with staff to reduce the second-story massing and roofline; staff told the commission the proposal complies with RS zoning standards and design guidelines and recommended a CEQA exemption (Sections 15301 and 15331). The commission approved the project subject to conditions.

The additions will expand living spaces on the first floor and provide two bedrooms and two bathrooms on the new second floor. The work will increase building height from about 22 feet 3.5 inches to 29 feet 7 inches; staff noted side and rear setbacks will change but remain within zoning limits (south side reduced to approximately 24 feet 1 inch, rear reduced to about 18 feet 1 inch). The proposed materials differentiate new from old with 5-inch wood-lapped siding on the addition compared with 4-inch siding on the original house and with new fiberglass double-hung windows.

Commission discussion focused on the massing and articulation of the south elevation and the chimney. One commissioner suggested additional articulation — for example a porch, dormer, or banding — to reduce the apparent flatness of the south façade; the applicant explained the design decisions, including a horizontal band at the first/second-floor transition and elevating the chimney to meet new clearance needs. Chaddu Chijindu, principal architect, said the design “was in kind to the original” and described the banding and roof transitions introduced to differentiate new work while keeping compatibility with the historic house.

A motion to approve the certificate of appropriateness, to find the project exempt from CEQA, and to make the required findings passed on roll call. Staff advised the decision is final unless an appeal is filed within 15 days.","The Cultural Heritage Commission approved a first-floor and a reduced second-floor addition to a 1911 Craftsman house at 1001 Garfield Avenue, after discussing massing, siding differentiation and chimney treatment with the applicant.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6236127,"Cultural Heritage Commission approves addition and garage replacement at 1020 Indiana Avenue",1098,291000,1389000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3378817-c34be6bb8e6414e69b10a9319382d6fe&start=291&end=1389","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3378817-c34be6bb8e6414e69b10a9319382d6fe/thumbnail_291000.jpg","/articles/6236127/South-Pasadena-City/Los-Angeles-County/California/Cultural-Heritage-Commission-approves-addition-and-garage-replacement-at-1020-Indiana-Avenue","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6236127-4063bfc7c117fb95004f96c0dbe59c52/orig.mp4?Expires=1771206167&Signature=AUh-pbZZCjD3sl9IsF7tM6cfQqIo5nJx7PRrI~q687O6STi8AyntIDNkIRUk8Rgysr~cmvvl4bB9kkQ4h3RBGiLwazA-u~SyhDKbGRfRSJ8Th3lYefHJQQN1WOgUyzGXV4LS3QUop7aha1WjQcO4n9O7Wx5y1Jbiayxd5-zWwrTI57agCZLR1tDiqHv7NFPd921Dx79wrFezZz39VrRDZjzzIDDMoA6zI4Tbm9FqBnNPAAINt1jKErmk3VYxa0Z6vjAGF8nik0r~MGKDkEX6DerXSw98aflf-7byrcagNhZxe0TXV~tHp5U8~6ceBgR6c-rMq9eIRtm9enAj7CCu1Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The South Pasadena Cultural Heritage Commission on a unanimous vote approved a certificate of appropriateness for a 415-square-foot rear and side addition and the demolition and replacement of a detached garage at 1020 Indiana Avenue.

The project affects a 6,268-square-foot lot with a 1,055-square-foot single-family house built in 1921 that is listed on the city’s historic resources inventory as a contributor to the eligible El Centro–Indiana–Palm Addition Historic District. Planning staff told commissioners the proposal complies with the RS zoning standards and historic design guidelines; the commission found the project exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act under municipal CEQA sections 15301 and 15331 and approved it subject to conditions.

Planning staff’s presentation documented existing and proposed conditions: a 415-square-foot addition at the rear/side that will add a bedroom and bathroom and modestly lower the roofline (existing 14 feet 3 inches, proposed addition height 12 feet 10 inches); changes to side and rear setbacks (side reduced to 4 feet 2 inches, rear increasing to 52 feet); and replacement of a deteriorated detached garage. The existing detached garage was described in the applicant’s historic resource assessment as having lost integrity after past alterations; the HRA concluded the garage is no longer a contributing element and that its demolition would not affect the primary residence’s contributing status. The new replacement garage will be 438 square feet and match the Craftsman style and materials while showing a slight differentiation (3-inch horizontal siding on the addition versus existing 5-inch siding).

Architect Tim Clark, representing the applicant, answered a commissioner’s question about fenestration on the north-facing bedroom addition, saying: “there’s a neighbor to the north too, you know, as far as privacy factors are concerned. So, I mean, that was the primary reason why you see more siding there than fenestration.” Commissioners praised the clarity of staff’s presentation and the 3-D renderings and had no outstanding objections.

A motion to approve the certificate of appropriateness and the required findings passed on roll call. Staff advised the decision is final unless an appeal is filed within 15 days; no construction may commence during the appeal period.

The approval includes the conditions and exhibits presented to the commission; the permit history and the HRA findings are included in the project file for any subsequent permit review or building permits.","The South Pasadena Cultural Heritage Commission approved a 415-square-foot rear addition and demolition/replacement of a deteriorated detached garage at a 1921 Craftsman house listed as a contributor to the El Centro–Indiana–Palm Addition Historic District.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Commission backs ordinance amendments to clarify chair-review thresholds and HRE applicability

Commission reviews Mills Act application and rehabilitation plan for 1000 Buena Vista Street

Commission approves two-story addition at 1001 Garfield Avenue after design discussion

Cultural Heritage Commission approves addition and garage replacement at 1020 Indiana Avenue