A Pro Opinion for South Pasadena’s Measure SP

GUEST OPINION

Mission Street in South Pasadena (Photo – Umberto Brayj).

South Pasadena is a beautiful place with its tree-lined streets and views of the San Gabriel Mountains, down the San Fernando and San Gabriel valleys, and up the Arroyo Seco. More people should be able to afford those views.

By John D. Lesak

South Pasadena is a wonderful place for families. It has distinguished, diverse, nationally recognized schools that support a wide variety of students. I saw this in action after spending two years on the Monterey Hills Elementary School Site Council and four years representing the school district on the local plan area community advisory council. More families should be able to attend our schools.

South Pasadena has truly special neighborhood character. Its historic districts include a charming commercial corridor and neighborhoods featuring large estates, modest bungalows, and comfortable apartments. I spent 10 years as a Cultural Heritage Commissioner and six years as a Planning Commissioner working hard to conserve and enhance that character. I believe more people should be able to experience our neighborhoods.

South Pasadena has access to tens of thousands of great jobs. Not only are we a walkable City, but we are also a transit hub with easy access to the first freeway built west of the Mississippi and robust public transit like our Metro station and multiple bus routes. More workers need access to those jobs.

South Pasadena can accomplish multiple things at once. Due to the housing crisis, the city is required to plan for nearly 3,000 new housing units. We can build denser, more affordable housing AND preserve our neighborhood character. To do that, we need a 21^st century set of flexible planning tools that responds to today’s rapidly changing conditions.

It is time to remove the rigid 45-foot height limit established more than 40 years ago and replace it with a zoning code that allows for more height and density in parts of the city that can accommodate it. This is the proposal of Measure SP on the Nov. 5, 2024, General Election ballot. We need a zoning-code height limit based on data, technical study and public process: a code that can be more easily changed as information and priorities change.

South Pasadena needs to be part of a housing solution, and Measure SP makes that easier. I urge you to vote YES on Measure SP.

John D. Lesak is an architect living in South Pasadena.

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