Sierra Madre Congregational and Residential Overlay Zones

Client: County of Los Angeles

As part of satisfying the City of Sierra Madre’s 6th Cycle Housing Element Regional Housing Needs Assessment, and in response to our proposed Overlay Zone in Pasadena the City requested the development of a Congregational Overlay Zone. The Arroyo Group was tasked with providing the City with a zoning code amendment that is effective at encouraging housing developments that have a harmonious relationship with religious congregations and neighborhoods. First, the Arroyo Group conducted a full review of the City of Sierra Madre’s zoning code along with visits to congregational sites for meetings with leaders and City staff. Next the Arroyo Group developed four affordable development concepts on four individual congregational sites in the City. After receiving direction from the City development standards were extracted from the development concepts, including height limits, parking requirements, setbacks, transitional height requirements, and more. The final deliverable was a draft zoning code amendment that encourages affordable housing developments on congregational land.

Additionally, as seen below, visualizations were developed to illustrate the potential development concepts on various congregational sites in the City.