Preservation specialists, residents urge South Pasadena panel to keep demolition review and reject larger minor-project threshold

At its April 17, 2025 meeting, the South Pasadena Cultural Heritage Commission heard public comments urging commissioners to retain a requirement that triggers historic‑resource evaluations before demolition and to reject a proposed expansion of the minor‑project review threshold from 200 to 500 square feet.

Debbie Howell, a preservation specialist and former CHC member, told commissioners she helped draft the city’s Cultural Heritage Ordinance and said two edits under consideration would “reverse important policies that were put in place for a good reason.” Howell said one proposed change would let the director, rather than a clear ordinance requirement, decide whether to require a historic‑resource evaluation before demolition. “Demolition is a discretionary action, and therefore, it’s a project under CEQA,” Howell said, adding that the proposed language would put the city “back to the old days when the…