The Glendora Planning Commission approved a set of guidelines for future development in the heart of the city’s historic area and surrounding neighborhoods Tuesday.
Zoning for the Civic Center Area Plan had long been in place, according to city officials, but no set guidelines had been passed on future development in the area.
The area – Vista Bonita Avenue and Wabash Avenue, and Bennett Avenue and Foothill Blvd – is home to some of the city’s most historic buildings, including four designated as landmark buildings, and 56 structures identified in a historic survey. The variety of bungalow type homes also adds to the downtown’s unique charm.
The new developmental standards would change some zones from residential zoning to mixed use, having both residential and commercial components.
“The community is very concerned about retaining our historic village character and quality and that is definitely one of the goals of the CCAP, is to try to preserve the character of the Village area,” said Planning Manager Dianne Walter.
Walter said there was previously a “hodge podge” of up to 9 different zones.
The district was divided into three zones, each zone with its own developmental focus -- the downtown residential area, the downtown shopping area and an area determined as still developing.
The plan also dealt with architectural guidelines and promotion of sidewalk dining.
Traffic concerns were found to be minimal, said Walter, and a city parking analysis in 2010 showed sufficient parking in the downtown area during peak hours.
Commenters spoke out on the project, raising concerns that the not enough professional review had occurred on the plan, while others claimed that the city did not provide enough opportunities for the public to take part in the development of the plan.
Four public workshops were hosted since 2010 when the CCAP process was announced to the public. An Ad Hoc Committee including members from the Commission, Historical Preservation Committee and the Business Improvement District, was formed in 2010.
“We can go on an on and on about the way this was put together over a period of the year,” said Commission Chair Joe Battaglia. “There were more than four people that were involved listening, looking , discussing, material brought by staff, so this was not just created yesterday.
The commission approved the new guidelines 4-0, with Commissioner Cliff Hamlow absent. The ordinance will be sent to the City Council for approval.
