How Should The Ostrich Farm Be Developed? (Discussion)

Property owners of may soon see a change in zoning codes as City Council members look to loosen restrictions and make the blighted area along Pasadena Avenue more appealing to potential developers and business owners. 

The Restrictions

While the original vision of The Ostrich Farm's business park (labeled BP in the attached map) was to attract jobs and grow the city's tax base, a drive down Pasadena Avenue will show there are currently several vacant buildings and empty lots in the area.

Here's a bit of history, according to the city's director of planning and building, David Watkins, staff report:

Several parcels of land have been developed, or approved for development, in the Ostrich Farm since 1998. Most of that development is residential land uses (live/work). Land within the Ostrich Farm that is now zoned Business Park (BP), allows the construction of live-work development. This development trend is resulting in a shift away from the original vision of the Ostrich Farm as a master planned business park and light manufacturing center. 

Click here to view the staff report.

As the zoning code stands, no housing is permitted in these areas labeled business parks, and a conditional use permit is required for mixed-use development. It does, however, allow offices like manufacturing, technology/development and supports (which includes restaurants and child care).

Resident and former Councilmember David Margrave is a fan of changing the zoning codes to allow mixed-use. He and his wife own a portion of The Ostrich Farm, including the mixed-use building recently developed on Monterey Road, which houses .

"We know that before 1998, the city wanted to have manufacturing in town," he said at a City Council meeting Jan. 18.

"We have one manufacturer left. ... Myself and —we can't find manufacturers. We can find people that ... have interest in mixed-use and housing. ... The only true blighted area [in the city] is The Ostrich Farm. It's gone from 1980 until now in neglect," continued Margrave.

A Viable Solution

At the last meeting Feb. 15, City Council directed the planning commission to study existing land use restrictions, including triggers for conditional use permits and parking standards.

Councilmember Marina Khubesrian also made a motion to agendize transforming the into a Economic Development Commission to "take a proactive look and access some of these areas."

"This is one of the few areas in our city we can develop and turn into something as special as our downtown," she said.

Patch Asks: What do you think? What type of buildings/businesses do you envision surviving on that part of town? What would be most beneficial to residents and the overall vitality of the City?