DRAFT

Altadena CSD Committee

Commercial Recommendations

DRAFT

Objective/Intent• Make the commercial districts in Altadena more active and vibrant

to create more options for Altadena residents to work, shop and dine in Altadena.

• Encourage the return to Altadena’s traditional pedestrian oriented retail environment

• Streamline approval process for appropriate uses in the commercial retail zoned (C1, C2, C3) areas, discourage inappropriate industrial uses in the retail districts

• Streamline approval process for industrial uses we want to encourage in the commercial manufacturing zoned (CM) areas

• Create a uniform standard across all commercial districts in Altadena

DRAFT

Key Issues to Address

A. Encourage Diversity of ArchitectureB. Encourage Pedestrian oriented retailC. Encourage Mixed UseD. Increase Visibility of Altadena Businesses through better Signage

StandardsE. Encourage Restaurants & Outdoor DiningF. Higher Maintenance Requirements of Vacant Commercial

PropertyG. Create Appropriate Buffers Between Commercial & R-1 PropertiesH. Simplify & Standardize Commercial Standards to promote

Business Equally in All Commercial Areas of Altadena

DRAFT

Commercial Zones Present in Altadena

• C-1– Restricted Business• 35’ Height Limit• 20’ Set Back

• C-2– Neighborhood Business• 35’ Height Limit• 0’ Set Back

• C-3 – Unlimited Commercial• 13 x Floor Area Ratio• 0’ Set Back

• C-M – Commercial Manufacturing• M-1 – Heavy Manufacturing

– (Only 1 M-1 property in Altadena)

DRAFT

DRAFT

Levels of Review & ApprovalIn Orders of Difficulty & Cost (Lowest to Highest)

• Plot Plan• Directors Review• Directors Review - Yard Modification• Directors Review - CSD Modification• Minor CUP• CUP

DRAFT

DRAFT

Diversity of Architecture

• Increase Height Limit for mixed use properties from 35 ft. to 48 ft.– Residential buffers and other requirements still apply

• Reduce required Architectural Elements from 5 to 3– Currently Includes

• Arcading, Arches, Awnings, Balconies, Bay windows, Colonnades, Courtyards, Decorative exterior stairs, Decorative iron fences Decorative iron grilles, Outdoor dining, Plazas, Recessed upper floor loggias or pergolas, Tile or masonry fountains.

– Add Benches & Planters to make more pedestrian friendly

DRAFT

Diversity of Architecture

• Permit a wider variety of building colors & wall finishes in line with Altadena’s historically eclectic architecture– Currently limited to Mediterranean style– CSDs can not provide Design Review of buildings

An Example of a Remodel Under current CSD Historic Building

DRAFT

Encourage Pedestrian Oriented Retail• Discourage Self Storage, Auto Service and other industrial

uses in the Retail Zones– These uses deaden the pedestrian retail energy

• Redirect the industrial uses into Commercial Manufacturing (CM) zoned areas and streamline approval of these uses

DRAFT

Encourage Pedestrian Oriented Retail

• Parking– No On-site parking required for new retail uses under 5000

sq. ft. & New Restaurants with seating under 40 persons– Existing Structures exempt from additional parking

requirements– Off-street parking of oversize vehicles not permitted in

retail zones but still allowed in CM zones• Reduce requirements for Art Gallery & Antique Malls

to Directors Review• Revise list of permitted uses for C-1, C-2, C-3 zones

DRAFT

Mixed Use

• Permit Mixed Use buildings in C-2 & C-3• Increase height limit for mixed use to permit 4 stories • Permit Live Work Uses in C-1, C-2, C-3

• Residential buffers and other requirements still apply

DRAFT

Signage• Unify Signage Rules• Allow the following signs

– Wall– Window– Awning Sign– Directory Signs– Signs on Architectural Projections– Second Floor Window Signs– Second Floor Awning Signs– A Frame Signs aka Sandwich boards, max

60” high and 36” wide– Monument Signs

• No change to window coverage, temporary signage, or banner rules

DRAFT

Restaurants & Outdoor Dining

• Reduce Alcohol Permit for Restaurants to Minor CUP– Same Restrictions & Conditions as current CUP language– Still requires public notice, ABC Licensing, etc.– Reduces cost & processing time

• Outdoor Dining on Private Property Permitted without any permits & fees– Same restrictions on noise and hours as existing county

code for outdoor dining on public right of way (sidewalks)

DRAFT

Vacant Commercial Property

• Define Temporary fences to be allowed for 1 year or during active construction

• Require a permanent fence after 1 year, and must conform to county code

DRAFT

Adjacent Commercial & Residential Properties

• Limit Hours of Operation• Noise & Lighting Shields– Shield on parking lot lights adjacent to residential zoned

properties• Drive-Thru– Unify requirements across Altadena– If adjacent to residential zoned properties require a CUP,

with cleanup plan, noise plan, traffic plan, and limited hours 6AM-12AM

– If adjacent to commercial zoned properties; require directors review, and 24hr operation allowed

DRAFT

Simplify & Standardize Commercial Standards in All Commercial Districts in Altadena

• Currently many commercial districts are not mentioned in the CSD, for instance Fair Oaks, Allen & New York, etc.

• Uniform Commercial Standards for all of Altadena– Easier to Understand– Easier to Communicate– Uniform Enforcement– All commercial corridors would benefit equally from

the proposed CSD changes

DRAFT

Questions