Arcadia council approves 86‑unit Colorado Collection with nine moderate‑income units

Arcadia’s City Council on March 17 adopted Resolution 7,651 approving the Colorado Collection, an 86‑unit, three‑story townhome condominium project at 201 and 225 Colorado Place that includes nine deed‑restricted moderate‑income units.

Planner Fiona Graham summarized the project for the council, saying the proposal “includes the development of 86 3 story Spanish style residential units,” that the project is vested under the applicant’s SB 330 preliminary application and that it was found categorically exempt as a Class 32 infill development. The project will replace two existing structures (including a Motel 6), consolidate lots, and remove five protected on‑site trees; the applicant will replace removed trees at a 2:1 ratio and coordinate with the LA County Flood Control District on improved fencing along the wash.

The developer is requesting three waivers from the city’s objective development standards to obtain a state density bonus; staff noted state density‑bonus law requires local governments to grant objective‑standards waivers unless a health or safety concern can be identified. The applicant also sought a major administrative modification reducing the site’s minimum density from roughly 92 units to 86 units (about 23 dwelling units per acre) because a wash bisects the site and creates inefficient lot shapes.

Neighbor Janice Savoy, vice president of the Santa Anita Church Board, told the council that the church and Barnhart School support removing the Motel 6 but asked that commitments be codified for taller screening trees and repair or replacement of any neighboring trees or pavement damaged by construction. “We would like that codified so that we have protection just in case something happens,” she said.

Developer Matt Weaken said he had discussed the concerns with the neighbor and that his team was amenable to conditions. “She’s very reasonable, and we’re happy to take an additional condition relating to not only the preservation or replacement of her trees if they're damaged during our construction, but planning some taller trees,” he said.

Council members praised the project’s family‑oriented design and the additional deed‑restricted units. Councilmember David Fu noted the existing motel has 88 rooms and that the project’s net traffic increase is expected to be small. Staff told the council the traffic analysis shows the project would generate about 40 peak‑hour trips and roughly three additional peak‑hour trips beyond current uses, and therefore does not trigger a formal traffic study under CEQA thresholds.

As a friendly amendment to the approval, the council added a condition requiring the developer to replace any neighboring trees or other facilities damaged during construction and a separate condition specifying larger evergreen screening trees along the property line with Barnhart School. With those conditions in place, the council voted to approve the resolution by roll call vote (recorded as 5–0).

The project was recommended for approval by the Planning Commission at its February 24 meeting by a 5–0 vote. Staff said the applicant will return final landscaping and mitigation details for staff review and will coordinate with the county on fencing along the wash.

The council’s action authorizes the applicant to proceed under the city’s residential flex overlay and SB 330 vesting, subject to the conditions added by the council.