FROM:
Planning Department
TITLE:
Title
Master Case No. 26-0007 and Municipal Code Amendment No. 26-0001: Fontana Municipal Code amendments to Chapter 30 to modify multiple sections of the Zoning and Development Code, including modifications to definitions for medical land uses in commercial zones, the definition and regulation of business parks, screening requirements for loading areas in industrial zones, and regulations in the Form-Based Code zone, including the definition of frontage coverage, maximum setback standards in the Route 66 Gateway sub-district, glazing requirements for the Shopfront frontage type, and landscaping in parking areas.
End
RECOMMENDATION:
Based on information on the staff report staff recommends that the Planning Commission adopt Resolution No. PC 2026-___; and,
1. Determine that the Ordinance is categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Sections 15060(c), 15061(B)(3) (the common-sense exemption), and 15378 and Sections No. 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 question 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. 26-0001 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. 26-0001 to amend multiple sections of the Zoning and Development Code, including modifications to medical land uses in commercial zones, the definition and regulation of business parks, screening requirements for loading areas in industrial zones, and regulations in the Form-Based Code zone, including the definition of frontage coverage, maximum setback standards in the Route 66 Gateway sub-district, glazing requirements for the Shopfront frontage type, and landscaping in parking areas.
PROJECT PLANNER:
Cecily Session-Goins, Associate Planner
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The City of Fontana Zoning and Development Code regulates the development of commercial, industrial, and residential projects. Staff conducts ongoing reviews of the municipal code to determine where language within the code would benefit from updates, clarification, and/or redefinition to the help streamline zoning and facilitate the development process.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
The City initiated Municipal Code Amendment No. 26-0001 to update Chapter 30 (Zoning and Development Code) as summarized below; a detailed list of the proposed amendments is provided within Exhibit “A” of the Planning Commission Resolution provided as Attachment No. 1.
ANALYSIS:
Definition of acute care and urgent care - Addition of definition of acute care and urgent care medical uses to provide a clear delineation between the uses.
Definition of business parks - Modification to the definitions to eliminate unnecessary and redundant definitions of terms that do not appear elsewhere in the Zoning and Development Code and to clarify the type of development that qualifies as a business park.
Medical uses in commercial zones - Modifications to allowable land uses in the Community Commercial (C-1) and General Commercial (C-2) zones to allow urgent care uses as they are similar to typical medical offices. Acute care uses will continue to be disallowed.
Definition of frontage coverage in Form-Based Code zone - Modification to the definition of frontage coverage in the Form-Based Code zone to ensure clarity and uniform application.
Maximum setback standards in Form-Based Code zone - Modification to required maximum setback for buildings in the Route 66 Gateway subdistrict of the Form-Based Code zone to allow for a greater setback and consistency with existing development in the area.
Glazing requirements for the Shopfront frontage type - Modification to allow the use of spandrel glass to fulfill the minimum glazing requirement for this frontage type.
Landscaping in parking areas in Form-Based Code zone - Modifications to require that mixed-use or commercial development parking areas comply with landscaping requirements applicable to similar development in other zones.
Modification to special use regulations pertaining to business parks - Exclusion of business parks from the special use regulations applicable to warehousing distribution and logistics land uses in the Light Industrial (M-1) zone.
Screening of loading areas in Industrial zones - Modifications to clarify that the requirement to screen loading areas applies to dock doors and truck courts.
In summary, the proposed amendments will provide for flexibility and streamlining of the City’s Zoning and Development Code to facilitate desirable development within the City.
MOTION:
Approve staff’s recommendation
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment No. 1 - Planning Commission Resolution
Attachment No. 2 - Notice of Exemption
Attachment No. 3 - Public Hearing Notice