FROM:
Planning Department
TITLE:
Title
Master Case No. (MCN) 23-0078: Design Review (DRP) No. 25-0002 - A request for site and architectural approval of the City Hall Renovation Project that includes the demolition of the existing City Hall building, the construction of an approximately 42,072 square foot new City Hall building, including site improvements and facade improvements to the existing Development Services Organization (DSO) building, all located at 8353 Sierra Avenue (APN:0192-031-23, 0192-031-24) pursuant to an Addendum to the Mitigated Negative Declaration (SCH NO. 2023120527).
End
RECOMMENDATION:
Based on the information in the staff report and subject to the attached Findings and Conditions of Approval, staff recommends that the Planning Commission adopt Resolution No. PC 2025-____; and,
1. Adopt the Addendum and Mitigation, Monitoring, and Reporting Program (MMRP) to the Civic Center Renovation Project Mitigated Negative Declaration (SCH NO. 2023120527) and direct staff to file a Notice of Determination; and,
2. Approve Design Review (DRP) No. 25-0002.
APPLICANT:
City of Fontana - Engineering Department
8353 Sierra Avenue
Fontana, CA 92335
LOCATION:
The project site is located at 8353 Sierra Avenue (APN: 0192-031-23 and 0192-031-24).
REQUEST:
Master Case No. 23-0078 and Design Review No. 25-0002 - A request for site and architectural review of the City Hall Renovation Project that includes the demolition of the existing City Hall building, the construction of an approximately 42,072 square foot new City Hall building, including site improvements and facade improvements to the existing Development Services Organization (DSO) building.
PROJECT PLANNER:
Angelica Martinez, Assistant Planner
Land Use Table:
|
|
General Plan |
Zoning/Overlay |
Existing Land Use |
|
Site: |
Public Facilities (P-PF) |
Form Based Code (FBC)/ Civic Downtown Core |
Fontana Civic Center Campus |
|
North: |
Downtown Core (WMXU-3) |
Form Based Code (FBC) Downtown Core - Gateway Core and Multi-Family Core |
Commercial uses; single and multifamily homes |
|
South: |
Public Facilities (P-PF) |
Form Based Code (FBC) Downtown Core - Civic |
Library, park, and Pacific Electric Trail |
|
East: |
Public Facilities (P-PF) |
Form Based Code (FBC) Downtown Core - Civic |
Fire District Building (Fontana Civic Center Campus) |
|
West: |
Downtown Core (WMXU-3)/ Public Facilities (P-PF) |
Form Based Code (FBC) Downtown Core - Civic |
Fontana Woman’s Club and Commercial Business, Spaggi’s |
PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
A. Project Area: Approximately 4.43 acres
B. New Building Area: Approximately 42,072 square feet
C. Parking Area: Includes 155 parking spaces
(Reconfiguration of existing parking lot for a net increase of 10 new spaces)
ANALYSIS:
The applicant (City of Fontana- Engineering Department) is requesting that the Planning Commission review and approve Design Review (DRP) No. 25-0002 for Phase II of the City of Fontana Civic Center Renovation Project. The Project would construct a new two-story city hall building of approximately 42,072 square feet within the Fontana Civic Center Campus. The project site is located within the Fontana Civic Center Campus, which is comprised of four (4) buildings: City Hall (to be demolished), the Development Service Office Building (façade changes), the Fire District Administration East Annex building, and the Police Station building on approximately 9.5 acres.
Design Review (DRP) No. 25-0002:
The proposed municipal building development will demolish an existing 28,616 square foot municipal building and construct a 42,072 square foot City Hall building (Phase II). The Project includes adding parking garages on the first-floor level of the new building, and a multi-level exterior plaza employee roof deck of 14,000 square feet.
Site improvements will include the reconfiguration of surface parking adjacent to the two buildings, installation of 75 parking spaces, impervious pedestrian paving, and installing new landscaping. The existing solar parking on the west side is to remain.
A modern style of architecture is proposed. The architectural features of the proposed building will feature a light warm white/grey color palette with a textured orange terracotta accent. The architectural style includes a glass window exterior with painted metal and steel accent panels. The project will include off-site improvements for sidewalks, curb and gutter to match existing.
The Project Site is physically suitable in size and shape to support the development of the proposed project and has been designed to be compatible with surrounding uses. Applicable building codes, zoning codes, and fire codes and standards will be met and make for a safe, attractive and well-designed project.
Grading/Walls:
The topography of the project site is relatively flat with the flow going from the northeast to the southwest corner of the lot.
Site Access/Circulation/Parking:
Ingress and egress to the project site will be provided via a driveway on Upland Avenue. An Emergency Vehicle Access (EVA) is located along Upland Avenue. The internal circulation has been reviewed by Planning, Fire, Traffic, and Engineering. The internal circulation is sufficient to support this type of use. The parking area for the new City Hall Building will have 155 total parking spaces, 76 parking spaces will remain and 79 parking spaces will be restriped/reconfigured that will result in a net increase of 10 new parking spaces to the project site.
Environmental:
Pursuant to Sections 15162 and 15164 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines and Section 8.06 of the City of Fontana’s 2019 Local CEQA Guidelines an Addendum to the Civic Center Renovation Project Mitigated Negative Declaration (SCH NO. 2023120527) has been prepared for this proposed project. The aforementioned Mitigated Negative Declaration along with a Mitigation Monitoring Reporting Program (MMRP) was adopted by the Planning Commission on January 16, 2024 and anticipated the development of this project along with the Fire Annex project and as part of the City Hall Renovation Project. The adopted Mitigated Negative Declaration (SCH NO. 2023120527) along with the Mitigation Monitoring Reporting Program (MMRP) adequately identified any potential impacts associated with this project.
This Addendum to this Mitigated Negative Declaration determined that there are no new additional impacts beyond what was anticipated in the environmental document mentioned above.
MOTION:
Approve staff’s recommendation.
ATTACHMENTS:
1 - Vicinity Map
2 - Project Plan Set
3 - Resolution, Findings, and Conditions of Approval
4 - Notice of Determination
5 - Public Hearing Notice