Orange Grove Road Diet Is Dead

> A recap of Pasadena City Council meeting on Monday, Oct. 15, 2018

Pasadena residents at the council meeting (Photo – Garrett Rowlan).

As the old Kenny Rogers song says, “you’ve got to know when to fold them,” and so forth.

By Garret Rowlan

And in relation to the road diet on Orange Grove, the Pasadena City Council decided to fold ‘em. The project, which was to cover almost two miles of pavement, was dropped.

“Our lead time was not ideal,” said Steve Mermell, City Manager, providing the first eulogy. “There was a lack of consensus.”

But plenty of opposition, according to the number of residents gathered in the council. “We overreached, “ Mayor Terry Tornek admitted.

The end of the project engendered something of a soul-searching among the council, even a faintly contrite air. Councilmember Andy Wilson said it was “a learning opportunity”, and Mayor Tornek insisted the process of improving transportation and safety wasn’t a “zero-sum game.” Adding, “We’re dealing with a way that accommodates a variety of interests.”

A member of prize winning Pasadena Scottish Pipes and Drums Corp at Opening of Session (Photo – Garrett Rowlan).

The evening’s second major issue involved strategies for increasing affordable housing, especially when the states requirement for density is much greater than Pasadena’s own standards. An array of issues crowd around the affordable housing debate: the need to build up housing that keeps up with population, the expense of construction (and how builders should be compensated for their efforts), the immensity of some projects, and even the possible threat of decertification from Sacramento if Pasadena should stray from imposed laws. The way forward is difficult, and nothing was decided.

At ten o’clock, council was wondering whether to go on with Agenda item 13, or call it a night.

> Watch the entire Pasadena Council meeting on Monday, Oct. 15, 2018.