FROM:
Planning Department
SUBJECT:
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 and uses related 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, pursuant to a categorical exemption from the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) in accordance with CEQA Guidelines Sections 15060(c), 15378, and 15061(B)(3).
End
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
Open the public hearing, receive public testimony, close the public hearing and by motion:
1. Find that the adoption of the proposed ordinance is categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Sections 15060(c), 15378, and 15061(B)(3) (the common-sense exemption), and Sections No. 3.01, 3.22, and10.59 of the 2019 Local Guidelines for Implementing CEQA.
2. Waive full reading and introduce for first reading by title only Ordinance No. 1985 entitled: “An Ordinance Of The City Council Of The City Of Fontana, California, Amending Multiple Sections Of The Fontana Municipal Code, Including Amendments To Sec. 30-12 Pertaining To The Definition Of Acute Care, Urgent Care And Business Park; Sec. 30-358 Pertaining To The Definition Of Frontage Coverage; Sec. 30-368 Pertaining To The Maximum Setback For Buildings In The Route 66 Gateway Subdistrict Of The Form-Based Code Zone; Sec. 30-386 Pertaining To The Minimum Glazing Standard For The Shopfront Frontage Type In The Form-Based Code Zone; Sec. 30-389 Pertaining To Required Landscaping In Parking Areas For Mixed-Use And Commercial Developments In The Form-Based Code Zone; Sec. 30-489 Pertaining To The Urgent Care And Acute Care Land Uses In The Commercial Zones; Sec. 30-538 Pertaining To Required Screening Of Loading Areas In Industrial Zones”. And Finding The Action To Be Categorically Exempt From CEQA Under CEQA Sections 15060(C), 15378, and 15061(B)3).”
End
COUNCIL GOALS:
• Promote economic development by pursuing business attraction, retention, and expansion.
• Promote economic development by being business friendly at all levels and striving to constantly improve the city's competitiveness.
• Provide a diverse range of housing types and levels of affordability while addressing homelessness in the community by promoting diverse range of housing projects and levels of affordability.
DISCUSSION:
BACKGROUND
The City of Fontana’s 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, redefinition, or additions to help streamline and facilitate the development process and commercial business activity.
On March 17, 2026, the Planning Commission considered a request for an amendment to Chapter 30 regarding Municipal Code Amendment No. 26-0001. The Planning Commission voted unanimously to approve a resolution recommending that the City Council approve the proposed ordinance.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Municipal Code Amendment No. 26-0001 provides updates to Section 30 (Zoning and Development Code) as described below. A detailed list of the proposed amendments is provided within Exhibit “A” of the Ordinance.
ANALYSIS
The request includes the following modifications:
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:
The proposed ordinance is categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Sections 15060(c), 15378, and 15061(B)(3) (the common-sense exemption), and Sections No. 3.01, 3.22 and 10.59 of the 2019 Local Guidelines for Implementing CEQA, in that the ordinance is covered by the rule that CEQA applies only to projects which have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment, and also by the common sense exemption which provides that, where it can be determined 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. The proposed amendments are minor in nature and do not have the potential for causing significant impacts on the environment; therefore, the exemptions are appropriate.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment No. 1 - Ordinance
Attachment No. 2 - Planning Commission Packet
Attachment No. 3 - Planning Commission Minutes
Attachment No. 4 - Public Hearing Notice
FISCAL IMPACT:
None.
MOTION:
Accept staff’s recommendation.