Politics & Government

Concept for Condos Near Gold Line Falls Short of Commission's Expectations

The Glendora Planning Commission offers feedback to proposed condominium project on Ada and Glendora avenues.

Preliminary concepts on a proposed 57-unit condominium complex next to a future Metro Gold Line station on Ada and Glendora avenues left more to be desired among members of the Glendora Planning Commission on Tuesday.

Although no action had been taken at the meeting, the commission was asked for comment on the preliminary plans.

The 5-block project under City Ventures, LLC sits on a narrow 3-acre strip of land south of the Post Office and next to a future station of the . The project was once the site of a proposed 87-unit townhome, mixed-use project, which fell victim to the economic downturn. City Ventures purchased the property last year, proposing a smaller, less dense condominium complex.

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Still, its position near the Glendora Village Shopping Center makes it a prime location, a significance that should be reflected in its design, said commission members. The four-person commission took issue with the “monolithic” look of the brownstone, linear design of project. 

“What we’re seeing here is a midblock redevelopment appropriate anywhere else in the city but totally inappropriate for what is the top 10 intersections in town,” Commissioner James Prunty said to Bill McReynolds of City Ventures, LLC during the meeting. “This is down the street from City Hall, but you have nothing here that speaks to Glendora.”

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The proposed project sits near the site of the old Glendora Train Station, which served the city and the citrus industry, before it was decommissioned and removed in the 1960s. A Metro Gold Line station platform will be built in its place, according to the staff report.

Developers had presented the commission with two plans, one with 57-units and 3 parking spaces per unit, fulfilling the city’s parking requirement. There would be 114 enclosed parking garages and 57 open parking spaces. The other plan included 54 units, but 29 spaces less than the previous plan. The latter would not have met the city’s parking requirement, although it would fulfill the commission’s request for more density, said planning manager Dianne Walter. Still, if the commission decided on the second plan, city codes on parking would have to be revised to accommodate the proposed project.

Most of the members expressed resistance to changing city parking codes.

“It seems to me that if we don’t keep the parking standard, then we’re telling everyone you can park in someone else’s place,” said Commissioner Cliff Hamlow.

Another main feature of the project’s design includes a landscaped pedestrian walkway, creating a direct route from Glendora Avenue to the train platform.

“This is not a mixed-use commercial project anymore, this is strictly a condominium project,” said Commissioner Joseph Batagglia. “I don’t think it’s necessary to have walking from uptown to downtown through here to the station, instead of just walking on Ada to the platform.”

Developer McReynolds assured the commission that current plans were conceptual and open to change based on the commission’s feedback.

“We are in favor of moving in any way the commission felt appropriate,” said McReynolds. He added that current project plans would incorporate the city’s historical and cultural character.

“[This design] is not an off the shelf design,” said McReynolds of the Bouganvilla landscape concept. “It’s something that says Glendora and what Glendora is known for.”

Commissioners advised developers to bring back a more detailed design and plan before the commission before a public hearing at a future date.


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