FROM:
Planning Department
TITLE:
Title
Draft Subsequent Environmental Report (DEIR) for Master Case No. 22-143, Tentative Parcel Map No. (TPM 20710) No. 23-012, and Design Review No. 22-064 - a request to receive comments on the DEIR, State Clearinghouse No. 2009091089 for the development of a new industrial commerce center building totaling approximately 881,826 square feet within a 40-acre site.
End
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the Planning Commission: 1) Open the public hearing on the Draft Subsequent EIR prepared for the Hemlock Warehouse Development Project to receive comments from the public; 2) Review and provide Planning Commission comments on the DEIR; and, 3) Direct staff to address comments that are received within the Final EIR.
APPLICANT:
Prologis
17777 Center Court Dr N, Ste 100
Cerritos, CA 90703
LOCATION:
The Project site is located at 11115 Hemlock Avenue and encompasses three (3) parcels comprised of approximately 40 acres (APNs) 0237-131-25, 0237-131-26, and 0237-131-27.
REQUEST:
This request is to receive comments on the Draft Subsequent Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) State Clearinghouse No. 2009091089 for the development of a new industrial commerce center building totaling approximately 881,826 square feet over approximately 40 acres.
PROJECT PLANNER:
Rina Leung, Senior Planner
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
Existing Land Use Designation
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General Plan |
Specific Plan |
Existing Land Use |
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Site: |
General Industrial (I-G) |
SWIP - Slover Central Manufacturing/Industrial district (SCD) |
Storage and leasing of modular trailers |
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North: |
General Industrial (I-G) |
SWIP - Slover Central Manufacturing/Industrial district (SCD) |
Industrial and industrial commerce center |
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South: |
Light Industrial (I-L) |
SWIP - Jurupa North Research and Development District (JND) |
Industrial commerce center |
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East: |
General Industrial (I-G) |
SWIP - Slover East Industrial District (SED) |
Industrial and transportation uses (Daylight Transport) |
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West: |
General Industrial (I-G) |
SWIP - Slover Central Manufacturing/Industrial district (SCD) |
Industrial commerce center and car rental agency with storage |
Southwest Industrial Park Specific Plan (SWIP)
PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
A. Site Area: Approximately 40 gross acres
B. FAR Ratio:
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
The purpose of this hearing is to allow the Planning Commission and the public an opportunity to comment on the Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) for the proposed project; project information is provided for reference purposes only. The final project and final EIR will be considered at public hearing before the Planning Commission at later date.
ANALYSIS:
The Draft Subsequent EIR examined the development of the industrial commerce center building on the project site. The proposed project is a request to development an industrial commerce center building, proposed at 11115 Hemlock Avenue, south of Santa Ana Avenue, north of Jurupa Avenue, east of Hemlock Avenue, and west of Beech Avenue and would contain approximately 881,826 square feet of floor area. The project will construct the necessary on-site and off-site improvements pursuant to city standards.
The applicant has applied for Tentative Parcel Map and Design Review applications that will be considered by the Planning Commission at a later time
Tentative Parcel Map (TPM 20710) No. 23-012:
The proposed map consists of three (3) parcels totaling approximately 40 gross acres ([APNs]: 0237-131-25, 0237-131-26, and 0237-131-27). The purpose of the map is to combine the three (3) parcels into one (1) parcel for the purpose of consolidating the parcels and to support construction of the proposed new industrial commerce center building.
Design Review (DRP) No. 22-064:
The proposed Project would redevelop the site with a new warehouse building that would have a footprint of approximately 747,000 square feet and include a first-floor office of 20,000 square feet, a second-floor office mezzanine area of 20,000 square feet, a warehouse area of 726,826 square feet, and a pick module mezzanine area of 115,000 square feet; totaling 881,826 square feet. Storage of refrigerated goods may occur within 220,500 square feet of the warehouse. The warehouse building would have 114 loading docks located on the east and west sides of the building. Vehicular and truck access would be provided via Hemlock Avenue and Beech Avenue.
Environmental:
Southwest Industrial Park Specific Plan Update and Annexation (SWIP SP EIR):
The EIR for the SWIP Specific Plan Update and Annexation is a Program EIR that previously examined the total scope of environmental effects that would occur as a result of buildout of the SWIP Specific Plan area with the land uses designated in the Specific Plan. Once a Program EIR has been prepared, subsequent activities within the program or changes to the program must be evaluated to determine whether additional CEQA documentation needs to be prepared. The key considerations in determining the need for additional CEQA review are outlined in Section 21166 of the Public Resources Code (CEQA) and CEQA Guidelines §15162, which states that no subsequent EIR shall be prepared unless one or more of the following conditions is present:
1. Substantial changes are proposed in the project which will require major revisions of the previous EIR or negative declaration due to the involvement of new significant environmental effects or a substantial increase in the severity of previously identified significant effects;
2. Substantial changes occur with respect to the circumstances under which the project is undertaken which will require major revisions of the previous EIR or Negative Declaration due to the involvement of new significant environmental effects or a substantial increase in the severity of previously identified significant effects; or
3.New information of substantial importance, which was not known and could not have been known with the exercise of reasonable diligence at the time the previous EIR was certified as complete or the Negative Declaration was adopted, shows any of the following: (a) The project will have one or more significant effects not discussed in the previous EIR or negative declaration; (b) Significant effects previously examined will be substantially more severe than shown in the previous EIR; (c) Mitigation measures or alternatives previously found not to be feasible would in fact be feasible, and would substantially reduce one or more significant effects of the project, but the project proponents decline to adopt the mitigation measure or alternative; or (d) Mitigation measures or alternatives which are considerably different from those analyzed in the previous EIR would substantially reduce one or more significant effects on the environment, but the project proponents decline to adopt the mitigation measure or alternative.
Initial Study/NOP
Although the proposed Project is consistent with the SWIP Specific Plan and the land use designations for the site, the Project includes the development and operation of a warehouse building that may involve new significant environmental effects or a substantial increase in the previously identified effects. Thus, the City of Fontana has prepared a Draft Subsequent EIR that evaluates the potential of the proposed Project to result in new or substantially greater impacts than previously identified in the SWIP SP EIR.
An Initial Study and Notice of Preparation (NOP) were prepared and circulated between February 23, 2023, and March 27, 2023, which identified that potential new or substantially greater impacts could occur related to air quality, greenhouse gas emissions, noise, transportation, and tribal cultural resources.
Draft Subsequent EIR:
After preparation and distribution of the Initial Study and NOP, the Draft Subsequent EIR was prepared for the project. The environmental analysis contained in the Draft Subsequent EIR is based on the Initial Study findings, the findings of the SWIP EIR, and specific studies undertaken for the City by qualified environmental scientists, specialists, and consultants. The Project specific technical studies address air quality, greenhouse gas emissions, noise, transportation, and tribal cultural resources. The Initial Study along with technical studies are contained in the Appendices of the Draft Subsequent EIR and are made available for the public review at the City’s website: <https://www.fontanaca.gov/2137/Environmental-Documents>
The Draft Subsequent EIR describes the potential environmental impacts of the proposed project and mitigation measures that minimize the project impacts on the environment. The scope of the Draft Subsequent EIR includes environmental issues identified by the City during the preparation of the Initial Study and NOP, as well as issues raised by outside agencies, organizations, and individuals in response to the NOP that could have the potential to result in new or increased significant impacts, beyond those identified in the SWIP EIR. These include potential impacts related to the following topics: air quality, energy, greenhouse gas emissions, noise, transportation, and tribal cultural resources.
According to the analysis in the Draft Subsequent EIR and supporting studies, even with incorporation of proposed mitigation measures, impacts to air quality and greenhouse gas emissions, would remain significant and unavoidable. Consequently, there are significant and unavoidable impacts as a result of the proposed project and a Statement of Overriding Consideration (SOC) 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 alternatives evaluated for this proposed project include “No Project”, “Reduced Project”, and “SWIP Buildout Alternative”.
Draft Subsequent EIR Circulation:
The Draft Subsequent EIR was circulated for the 45-day public review period beginning on October 10, 2023, and the review period will close on November 27, 2023. Any comments received at the Planning Commission hearing will be addressed in the Final Subsequent EIR, which will be provided to the Planning Commission at least 10 days prior to certification of the Final Subsequent EIR and approval of the proposed project.
The Draft Subsequent EIR is available for the public review at the City’s website: <https://www.fontanaca.gov/2137/Environmental-Documents>
MOTION:
Provide comments on the DEIR and direct staff to address comments in the FEIR
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment No. 1 - Vicinity Map
Attachment No. 2 - Site Plan
Attachment No. 3 - Public Hearing Notice