FROM:
Planning Department
TITLE:
Title
Master Case No. 25-020 and Municipal Code Amendment (MCA) No. 25-005: Fontana Municipal Code Amendments to Chapter 30 (Zoning and Development Code) to adopt objective design standards for residential and mixed-use development projects subject to streamlined and ministerial review under State of California law, pursuant to Section 15378 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines, Section No. 3.22 and 3.07 of the 2019 Local Guidelines for Implementing CEQA.
End
RECOMMENDATION:
Based on information in the staff report, staff recommends that the Planning Commission adopt Resolution No. PC 2025-___; and,
1. Determine that this Ordinance is exempt pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Sections 15060(c), 15061(B)(3) (the common-sense exemption) and 15378 and Sections 3.01, 3.22, and 10.59 of the 2019 Local Guidelines for Implementing CEQA, in that the activity is covered by the general rule that CEQA applies only to projects which have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment where it can be with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in quest may have a significant effect on the environment, the activity is not subject to CEQA; and,
2. Approve a resolution recommending that the City Council adopt an Ordinance for Municipal Code Amendment (MCA) No. 25-005 to amend Chapter 30 of the Municipal Code.
APPLICANT:
City of Fontana
8353 Sierra Avenue
Fontana, CA 92335
LOCATION:
Citywide
REQUEST:
Municipal Code Amendment (MCA) No. 24-006 is a request to amend Chapter 30 of the Fontana Municipal Code to adopt objective design standards pertaining to residential and mixed-use development projects utilizing streamlined processing under State of California law.
PROJECT PLANNER:
Cecily Session-Goins, Associate Planner
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
In recent years, the State of California has established programs for mandated streamlined ministerial reviews and approval for many different types of housing development projects. In those cases, the City is limited to applying only objective design standards to those projects. An objective design standard is a measurable and verifiable specification used to evaluate a development project’s performance or quality. It focuses on quantifiable aspects like dimensions and materials, rather than subjective preferences. Many of the City’s existing regulations related to architectural and façade design for residential and mixed-use development are geared toward the discretionary review process and cannot be applied objectively. Therefore, objective design standards have been drafted for development projects that are mandated for streamlined review.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
The proposed ordinance will add objective design standards for residential and mixed-use projects subject to streamlined, ministerial review under State of California law.
ANALYSIS:
With the introduction of State laws that require the streamlined and ministerial approval process for qualifying residential and mixed-use development projects, there may be an increase in applications for all types of streamlined ministerial reviews. Many of the City’s existing regulations related to architectural and façade design are written as guidelines, which typically lend themselves to the discretionary review process. Those regulations are not written as objective development standards and are therefore unenforceable in a streamlined ministerial review process. Streamlined ministerial reviews are limited to a verification of compliance with the City’s objective design and development standards that are in effect at the time the applications are submitted.
The objective design standards will be applied only to lawfully entitled ministerially processed (non-discretionary) housing development projects that meet specific circumstances outlined in State law. The objective design standards are intended to regulate the architectural and façade design of streamlined development projects in order to ensure that the quality of the design meets the standards previously set through the design review/discretionary process.
As proposed, the objective design standards will be added to Article V - Residential Zoning Districts of the Zoning and Development Code.
MOTION:
Approve staff’s recommendation
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment No. 1 - Planning Commission Resolution
Attachment No. 2 - Notice of Exemption
Attachment No. 3 - Notice of Public Hearing