Almost one year after the City heard public frustration and uncertainty about development in town, the Planning Commission will meet to discuss the completed review on the Route 66 Specific Plan.
A synopsis of the review emphasizes a need to focus on development along Route 66 in addition to rezoning to allow more homes, expresses issues with the size and land-use approach in the Town Center Mixed-Use subdistrict and finds the mixed-use component potentially problematic.
Staff reports that many properties within the Route 66 Service Commercial subdistrict are underutilized, specifically citing Andy’s Auto Center and the Tuesday Morning shopping center as amongst those. Staff suggests the City should consider rezoning portions of the RSC subdistrict to bring residential development in an effort to attract investment.
In the synopsis of the Specific Plan review, Staff virtually recommended to eliminate the mixed-use requirement from subdistricts that currently use it, stating “The form and location of mixed-use should be reconsidered and refined.”
Staff focused heavily on the Town Center Mixed-Use subdistrict, citing its sheer size could necessitate splitting it up to achieve refined land planning. Staff recommended that the area around the future Gold Line station should remain high density, while residential areas north should maintain reduced densities.
Allowable building heights are too tall in the TCMU and should be modified to three stories and 45 feet, as opposed to the current five stories and 75 feet tall allowance. Heights of four stories and 55 to 60 feet nearest to the future Gold Line should be allowed, Staff said.
The Barranca Gateway also suffers from much of what plagues Route 66, narrow parcels and underutilized properties. Staff believes not many properties will attract development in the next decade and that incentives should be available to potential developers.
The Grand Avenue Gateway and Grand/Route 66 Gateway subdistricts, on the other hand, have newer properties, all in good condition and should not change in the foreseeable future. The shopping center near Grand and Baseline Road is considered underutilized and should be given attention, Staff said.
The months-long review of the eight subdistricts in the Specific Plan came to an end August 18. City Staff reviewed public comments and questions received during each special meeting and from this February’s town hall meeting.
It was October of 2014 when the Glendora City Council ordered a review of the Specific Plan. Discussion amongst Council members began in December, followed by the well-attended town hall meeting. The Planning Commission’s actual review began in April.
The Commission will discuss the review in greater detail at their meeting scheduled for 7 p.m. in the Council Chambers, 116 E. Foothill Blvd.
