FROM:
Planning Department
TITLE:
Title
Master Case No. 22-143: Tentative Parcel Map (TPM 20710) No. 23-012, Design Review (DRP) No. 22-064, Development Agreement (AGR) No. 24-002, and Final Subsequent Environmental Impact Report for the development of an industrial warehouse building totaling approximately 881,826 square feet on approximately 40.01 acres. End
RECOMMENDATION:
1. Based on the information contained in this staff report and subject to the attached Findings and Conditions of Approval, staff recommends that the Planning Commission adopt Resolution No. PC 2024-_____, and:
a. Certify the FSEIR, a Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program and a Statement of Facts and Findings, and direct staff to file a Notice of Determination.
2. Based on the information contained in this staff report and subject to the attached Findings and Conditions of Approval, staff recommends that the Planning Commission adopt Resolution No. PC 2024-_____, and:
a. Approve Tentative Parcel Map No. 23-012 (TPM No. 20710); and
b. Approve Design Review No. 22-064.
3. And adopt Resolution No. PC 2024-_____and forward a recommendation to the City Council to adopt an ordinance approving Development Agreement (AGR) No. 24-002.
APPLICANT:
Prologis
17777 Center Court Drive N., Ste 100
Cerritos, CA 90703
LOCATION:
The project site is located at 11115 Hemlock Avenue (APNs: 0237-131-25, 0237-131-26, and -27).
REQUEST:
Tentative Parcel Map No. 23-012 (TPM No. 20710) - A request to consolidate three (3 parcels comprised of approximately 40.01 acres into one parcel for the development of the project.
Design Review (DRP) No. 22-064 - A request for review of the architecture, site design and associated improvements for an industrial warehouse commerce center building totaling 881,826 square feet, including 40,000 square feet of office and mezzanine space on a site comprised of approximately 40.01 acres.
Development Agreement (AGR) No. 24-002 - A request for approval of a development agreement to provide for extended timing of entitlements measures in association with the new industrial commerce center.
PROJECT PLANNER:
Rina Leung, Senior Planner
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
A. Existing Land Use Designation:
PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
A. Site Area: Approximately 40 gross acres
B. FAR Ratio:
Building Maximum Allowed: .80
Provided: .54
C. Building Analysis:
Office/Mezzanine: 40,000 square feet
Warehouse/packing area 841,826 square feet
Total Area: 881,826 square feet
D. Landscaping
Required: 15 percent
Provided 19.7 percent
ANALYSIS:
The applicant, Prologis, is requesting that the Planning Commission approve Tentative Parcel Map No. 23-012 (TPM No. 20710), and Design Review (DRP) No. 22-064 for development of a new 881,826 square foot industrial commerce center building and associated improvements on an approximately 40 gross acres site located between Beech Avenue and Hemlock Avenue, north of Jurupa Avenue. The applications include a development agreement to provide for extended timing of entitlements and added environmental enhancement measures in association with the project.
Tentative Parcel Map No. 23-012 (TPM No. 20710)
Tentative Parcel Map No. 20710 is a proposal to consolidate three parcels totaling approximately 40 acres for the development of an 881,826 square foot industrial commerce center building. As part of the project the developer will construct all on-site and off-site improvements per the City Standards.
Design Review (DRP) No. 22-064
The development will be comprised of an 881,826 square feet industrial commerce center building that includes 40,000 square feet of office/mezzanine area, approximately 726,826 square feet of warehouse area, a pick module area of 115,000 square feet and 40,000 square feet of office/mezzanine area storage of refrigerated goods may occur within 220,500 square feet of the warehouse building. The warehouse building would have 114 loading docks located on the east and west sides of the building. Project on-site improvements include parking, landscaping, lighting.
The building facades would incorporate architectural elements (e.g., windows, pillars, wall plane breaks) to minimize stretches of blank walls. All colors and materials would consist of gray tones with a dark green accent color. Large expanses of blank walls would be broken up with expansion joints, reveals, or changes in texture and color. The proposal provides a development that has been designed with modern features to enhance the character of the surrounding neighborhood.
Grading / Walls
The subject site has a gradual slope the property and adjacent areas at a higher elevation to the north. Decorative 14-foot-high walls will provide screening for truck courts in conjunction with landscaped berms.
Site Access / Circulation /Parking
Access to and from the Project site will be provided via two (2) driveways along the southern portion of the site exclusively for passenger vehicles and two (2) driveways along the north exclusively for trucks, which accommodates truck cueing and provides access to both loading dock areas. Therefore, truck movements would occur along the north driveways and within the truck court and be separated from passenger vehicle areas.
Development Agreement (AGR) No. 24-002
The application includes a development agreement to provide for extended timing of entitlements measures in association with the new industrial commerce center building. The Development Agreement requires City Council approval after recommendation by the Planning Commission; a separate Planning Commission resolution related to the Development Agreement recommendation is attached.
Environmental:
The Draft Subsequent EIR (DSEIR) for the Hemlock Warehouse Development Project (SCH No. 2009091089) was made available for the public review at the City’s website: https://www.fontanaca.gov/2137/Environmental-Documents and reviewed by the Planning Commission at the November 7, 2023 regular meeting.
Subsequent to the preparation and distribution of the Initial Study/Notice of Preparation (NOP), the DSEIR was prepared for the project. The environmental analysis contained in the Draft Subsequent EIR is based in part on specific studies and assessments undertaken for the City by qualified environmental scientists, specialists, and consultants. This analysis addresses air quality, cultural resources, greenhouse gas emissions, noise, and transportation.
These technical studies are contained in the Technical Appendices document of the Draft Subsequent EIR and are made available for the public review. The Draft and Final Subsequent EIR and Technical Appendices can be viewed at the following URL: https://www.fontanaca.gov/2137/Environmental-Documents
The Final Subsequent EIR describes the environmental impacts of the project and the mitigation measures to help minimize the project impacts on the environment. The scope of this Final Subsequent EIR includes analysis of minimize the project impacts on the environment. The scope of this Final Subsequent EIR includes analysis of environmental issues identified and raised in response to the Initial Study/Notice of Preparation (IS/NOP) and during the DEIR comment period.
The Final Subsequent EIR determined that eighteen (18) of environmental effects for the project would have impacts found not to be significant. These 18 categories are Aesthetics, Agriculture and Forestry, Biological Resources, Cultural Resources, Energy, Geology and Soils, Hazards and Hazardous Materials, Hydrology and Water Quality, Land Use and Planning, Mineral Resources, Noise, Population and Housing, Public Services, Recreation, Tribal Cultural Resources, Transportation, Utilities and Services Systems, and Wildfire. The potential impacts from the aforementioned topical areas are fully addressed in the IS/DSEIR.
The analysis in the Final Subsequent EIR and supporting studies found that, even with incorporation of proposed mitigation measures, impacts to Air Quality/Green House Gases would remain significant and unavoidable. As a result of the proposed project having an impact that is significant and unavoidable, adoption of a Statement of Overriding Consideration (SOC) by the Planning Commission is required.
Alternatives
As required by CEQA, an EIR shall describe a range of reasonable alternatives to the project which meets the basic objectives of the project but would avoid or substantially lessen any of the significant effects of the project and evaluate the comparative merits of the alternatives. The proposed alternatives for this project include “No Project” and “Reduced Project” and “SWIP Buildout Alternative”.
Circulation
The project DSEIR was circulated for the 45-day public review period beginning on October 10, 2023, and ending originally on November 27, 2023. However, this review period was extended until December 11, 2023. The document was submitted to the State Clearinghouse for notification to State agencies for their possible comment. The Planning Commission conducted a public hearing on the DSEIR on November 7, 2023, the City received comments on the DSEIR from the following
public agencies, organizations, and individuals:
Letter Date Received Organization/Name
1 SCAQMD October 17, 2023,
2 SCAQMD October 18, 2023
3 SCAQMD November 22, 2023
4.Blum Collings & Ho, LLP December 11, 2023
The City along with the environmental consultant, has reviewed and provided responses to the letters/comments above; these are included in the Final SEIR. The Final SEIR along with errata has been included with the environmental documentation.
After the review period of the circulation of DEIR period mentioned above from October 10, 2023, to December 11, 2023, that included an extension had ended, the city received correspondence from Mr. Andrew Graf of Adams Broadwell Joseph and Cardozo on January 19, 2024 that cited concerns about the DEIR. Attachment No. 3 includes a memorandum with the letter along with response to the concerns cited in the January 19, 2024, letter from Mr. Andrew Graf of Adams Broadwell Joseph and Cardozo.
To approve the project, the Planning Commission must adopt a Statement of Overriding Considerations indicating that the project benefits override or outweigh the project identified unavoidable environmental impacts.
MOTION:
Approve staff’s recommendation.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Vicinity Map
2. Project Plans
3. February 29, 2024, Memorandum
4. Planning Commission Resolution No. PC 2024- Project approval
5. Planning Commission Resolution No. PC 2024- Certification of the EIR and MMRP
6. Planning Commission Resolution No. PC 2024- Recommendation approval for DA
7. Notice of Determination
8. Public Hearing Notice