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IV. CHALLENGES AND SOLUTIONS <br />Several issues face the Pasadena commercial office and retail asset management and leasing <br />teams, as well as the development community. These are complex, significant challenges that <br />ultimately impact Pasadena's economy, stability and future. <br />Under the leadership of the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce, these challenges were identified <br />and potential solutions devised over a seven month period in 2008. With input from the Pasadena <br />transportation director, planning director and economic development department, interested <br />parties met and discussed how Pasadena can improve its economic foundation and to what extent <br />that could involve collaboration between private interests and the City of Pasadena. <br />After identifying the challenges, the group has endeavored to provide direction for the <br />stakeholders to pursue mutually agreeable solutions. Some will require long-term analysis and a <br />commitment to working together to reach consensus on an action plan to build a more secure <br />economic foundation for the City of Pasadena. Others will require attention throughout the <br />General Plan revision process. Still others can be addressed by working with City staff to find <br />administrative solutions. <br />These concerns are presented along with potential solutions. It is the sincere wish of everyone <br />involved that this series of presentations will be considered, evaluated and acted upon. We <br />present these concerns briefly here. Detailed statistics, supporting information and descriptions <br />of the Pasadena office space marketplace and condition are attached. <br />CHALLENGES AND SOLUTIONS: <br />1. Challenge: Pasadena's vision sometimes clashes with reality. Pasadena's planning model <br />is not aligned with its regulations. <br />a. We want to be a walkable city, yet require certain businesses to maintain high <br />traffic allocations and parking ratios no matter where in the city they are located. <br />i. Solution: Consider instituting flexible regulations that allow for sharing of <br />parking by different time of day users. <br />ii. Solution: In areas where walkability is a goal, the City could lower driving <br />trips allocated and lower required parking ratios to encourage restaurants, <br />retail and entertainment venues that are destinations for walkers. <br />b. We want to provide effective mass transit options, yet resist building to densities <br />that will support that transit system. <br />i. Solution: Encourage denser development within walking distance of <br />transit centers and service lines. <br />c. We want to reduce traffic congestion, but limit the amount of building parking <br />actually needed to get cars quickly off the streets and to keep them out of the <br />neighborhoods. <br />11 <br />