Director outlines Town Center North plan, $700,000 parking purchase and upcoming ADU code changes

The Duarte City director updated the planning commission on several economic-development and planning matters, including an arrangement at Town Center North to facilitate Sky Zone’s relocation, and a city purchase to secure parking and access rights.

The director said the city purchased corner parking/access rights (stating $700,000) for the parcel where Spire Liquor formerly operated. The funds will support a full upgrade of the parking lot—lighting, landscaping—and a façade update for the Sky Zone building. The director said the dollars came from a city economic-development fund tied to the Huntington development and that multiple property owners in the center are now cooperating, increasing the likelihood of tenants filling vacant spaces.

On other items, the director said a project named Varta is expected to be mid-October and that there is moderate interest in redeveloping the former Nissan dealership site, though some property owners currently expect values or uses that may not match the site's zoning. Commissioners also raised constituent concerns about home internet access in a residential pocket where one resident reportedly lacks Frontier service; the director said the city manager's office (Andres) has been researching provider options. The director also said accessory-dwelling-unit (ADU) code changes are in process and will be presented to the commission in the near future, but cautioned the topic is complex and not an immediate action item.

The meeting ended with no further action on these updates and adjourned at 7:19 p.m.