Plan on problems
Preservationists sue over project as city seeks new planning director
By André Coleman 08/19/2010
Up until earlier this year, the city planning director oversaw both planning and development. But all that changed when former department head Richard Bruckner left City Hall in December to become planning director for Los Angeles County.
These days, development issues, to the chagrin of some local preservationists, come under the oversight of City Manager Michael Beck’s office.
At a community meeting this week in council chambers, Beck took feedback from a handful or residents on what they hope to see from the head of the reconstituted Planning Department.
“As we move into the application period for this position, I want to provide an opportunity for the community at large to provide input into the process,” Beck said in a prepared statement. “I value the community’s opinion.”
The search comes as the city finds itself under fire from critics of a proposed $75 million commercial development planned for the corner of El Molino Avenue and East Colorado Boulevard. The group Pasadenans for a Livable City has filed a lawsuit to stop the project, claiming environmental reports failed to properly study potential impacts on traffic in the area, and that the size of the project would overwhelm buildings in the historic Pasadena Playhouse District.
The planning director recruitment process will close in mid-September, followed by a series of interviews to determine semi-finalists. Next, a citizens’ advisory committee appointed by Beck will interview the remaining candidates and recommend three to four finalists to the city manager, who will make a selection near the end of the year.
Activist Ishmael Trone said the next planning director needs to know Pasadena, follow the General Plan and be able to educate the community.
“I’d like to see some communication, transparency and whoever it is stick to the General Plan and community plans and continue to seek community input,” Trone said. “The process has to be streamlined so there is not so much red tape and bureaucracy. If that takes place with a focus on Northwest Pasadena, especially on economic development, then that person needs to come in and learn our city.”
The salary of the next city planning director was not immediately known, said city spokeswoman Ann Erdman, who said pay for the position is still being finalized. Before leaving, Bruckner was earning about $153,000 a year in salary. Assistant City Manager Steve Mermell has been serving as interim director of the department since Bruckner left.
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