Planning Commission - Regular Meeting

Thank you.

Good evening. Welcome to today's City of Fontana Regular Planning Commission meeting here at Steelworkers Auditorium. I would like to remind the audience that this meeting is a business meeting, and as such, while the commission welcomes all members of the public to participate in open discussion regarding matters on this session's meeting agenda, speakers must conduct themselves appropriately so that the commission has the ability to listen and to consider all of the information and comments related to the agenda items. to deliberate and that all items in their context and allow for all viewpoints to be heard and respected. Please remember that disturbing a public meeting is a criminal offense. The city of Fontana is authorized by law to ensure the orderly conduct of this meeting. Engaging in conduct that disrupts this meeting may result in your microphone being muted and if disruption continues, request to leave the meeting if disruptive conduct persists after a warning disruptive behavior including verbal and nonverbal outbursts that prohibit the meeting from continuing in an orderly fashion I would like to call to order the meeting of the Fontana Planning Commission City Clerk, can you please call for attendance?

Yes, Chair. I'll start with you, Commissioner Roldan.

Commissioner Roldan, present.

Commissioner Kittle.

Present.

Secretary Lozano.

Present.

Vice Chair Quintana.

Present.

And Chair, I have you here.

All right, thank you. Next, we will move forward with our invocation and our Pledge of Allegiance. Can we please stand for the invocation and Pledge of Allegiance? The invocation will be given by Chaplain Diane Fore, and the Pledge of Allegiance will be led by Vice Chair Ricky Quintana.

Good evening, everyone. Let's bow our heads in prayer. Gracious Father, we come to you this evening with an attitude of thankfulness for all that you've blessed our city with. Be with each of us tonight as we discuss issues, and I pray for clarity and direction for any decisions being made this evening. Let us come with an attitude of respect for you and for each other, and I ask that you would bring a spirit of peace to our city and neighborhoods. Help us to live in harmony and support one another. We commit this time to you in Jesus' name. Amen.

All right, please place your right hand over your heart. Let's begin. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

all right this bring us brings us to public communications this is an opportunity for members of the public to address the planning commission on items not on the agenda city clerk do we have any public communication requests none for public communications chair okay thank you all right now this brings us to our consent calendar this is uh all matters listed under this consent calendar will be enacted by one motion in the form listed below Consent calendar approval for minutes of July 21st, 2026. Are there any written communications or requests for public to speak on the consent calendar items?

No written communications, Chair.

All right. There are no written communications. Can I have a motion to approve the consent calendar items?

Motion to approve consent calendar.

Second.

I got a motion from Commissioner Kittle and a second from Secretary Lozano.

Let's go and place our bets. Five in favor, motion passes.

all right the next item on this public hearing is item a i will be opening the public hearing for master case number 25-0051 tentative track map number 25-003 and design review number 25-0020 a request to subdivide approximately 3.5 acres into 46 lots for a new residential development including two affordable residences and a quest for the site and architectural approval for construction of 46 residential units within 23 duplex buildings and associated site improvements along with an affordable housing density bonus agreement and declaration of covenants conditions and restrictions for the property located at 14907 south highland avenue and identified as assessor parcel number 0228-021-07 pursuant to a categorical assumption in accordance with california environmental quality act guidelines section 15332 City Clerk, did we receive any written correspondence on this item?

We did not, Chair.

All right. Staff recommends that the Planning Commission continue the project to the date certain of August 18th, 2026 to provide time for further research related to the conditional approval. i'm sorry we don't have a report to go with it we're just requesting a continuance so if you could request a motion all right so city clerk do we have any requests to speak on this item we have none chair okay so may i have a motion to continue with this item to the planning commission meeting of august 18 2026. i'll make the motion to continue the meeting until august 18th commissioner roll down second all right we got a motion by vice chair quintana and commissioner and commissioner roll down all right let's place our votes five in favor motion passes All right, the next item is public hearing item B. I will be opening this public hearing. Master case number 21-00060, conditional use permit number 21-000011, and administrative site plan number 21-000032. A request to allow a registered vehicle storage use and request for site and architectural approval for the development of a registered vehicle storage site and an associated office of approximately 5,000 square feet along with site improvements on approximately 2.2 acres of located at 10610 live oak avenue identified as accessor's parcel number 0236-141-01 pursuant to a categorical exception in accordance with sequa guidelines section 15332 city clerk did we receive any rent correspondence on this item we did not chair okay um I was supposed to open this window. Going backwards real quick, after stating CEQA guidelines section 15332, now it's open. All right, city clerk said there was no written correspondence. At this time, Alejandro Rancon, associate planner, will provide the staff presentation.

Good evening. My name is Alejandro Rico. The applicant for this project is Varnit Trucking, represented by Bess Vasilev. The project's located at 10610 Live Oak Avenue. The conditional use permit, CUP number 21-11, is for the request to allow for registered vehicle storage on the site. An administrative site plan review for the architectural site plan review for the site and the 500 square foot office building on approximately 2.2 acres and this is an aerial view of the site currently the site is vacant except for a metal storage facility in the back which the applicant plans to demo to demo this project was noticed in the paper and to local property owners within 660 feet of the site and staff received no comments from the public Currently, this is a street view of what the project looks like. And here's a site plan. Access to the site will be from White Oak Avenue. As you can see, the office building of 5,000 square feet will be located to the northwest. There will be cab storage along with trailer storage along the northern property line with vehicle parking for employees right next to the building and then to the rear as well. vehicles the cabs and the trailers will be screened by the building and a screen wall that's adjacent to the southern property line and here are the elevations of the building the architect is going with a bit of a modern vibe for it to create visual interests which currently there aren't many new projects within the site so the applicant is holding hoping to beautify the area with this project And here's a rendering looking from the southeast and from the southwest. And based on the information contained in the staff report and subject to the attached findings and conditions of approval, staff recommends that the Planning Commission adopt REZO 2026-025. and determine that the project is categorically exempt pursuant to Section 15332, Class 32 Info Development, Section number 3.22, a categorical exemption per the local CEQA guidelines of 2019, and direct staff to file a notice of exemption, approve conditional use permit number 20-011, and approve administrative site plan 21-32. Staff and the applicant are here to address any questions from the commissioners.

All right. Thank you, Alejandro. Does the commission have any questions they would like to ask staff? Sure, I have one. All right. Vice Chair Quintana.

So my question is around the storage part of it. So I know under the general plan, this is like the zone for general industrial, which allows for storage, right? But the storage itself, will it just be those vehicles, or are we allowing people to stay in those vehicles, or is it just the storage of those vehicles?

No, they can only store registered vehicles, so they can't have people staying overnight or living there. People will have to leave once the office hours are closed, which would be at 7 p.m. So people can't stay in the trucks, and they can't have any cargo in the trucks as well.

All right, perfect. Thank you. Any other questions for Chuck? All right, if there are no more questions for staff, will the applicant please step to the back podium, state your name, and state whether you accept the conditions of approval.

Good evening. My name is and I accept the conditions.

All right, you want to tell us a little bit about your project?

Pardon me? I cannot hear you.

Would you like to tell us a little bit about your project?

Yeah, it's going to be a truck parking with the office because right now we are renting and the office, it's approximately 10 miles away from our parking lot, which is not comfortable for us. You know, we have to be in the office and the truck parking needs to be in one place. And actually, Right now, actually, we're renting, like I mentioned, and we're not able to expand our business because of that since 2014. So that's the reason why I have this property. And like Murphy's Law, we have the property. We pay the property taxes, but at the same time, we're not able to use it. So that's the whole idea. And of course, you notice that the building, it looks really nice. The architecture, it's in a high level. So right now, it's empty spot. It's better to have structure like this one, comparing with the empty spot. I know that it's industrial area, but still, it's better to have something nice in the area. I think I'm incorrect on that one. Don't you agree?

Yeah, great looking project. Thank you for bringing that to us.

Welcome.

All right. So are there any questions from the commission for the applicant? If there'll be no questions. City Clerk, are there any requests to speak on this item?

We have no request to speak.

All right, with no request to speak. This public hearing is now closed. there any further discussion by the commission or may i have a motion motion to approve uh master case number 2160 conditional use permit 2111 administrative site plan 2132. all right got a motion from commissioner ketel commissioner roll down second and a second from commissioner roll down go ahead please your votes five in favor motion passes all right moving to our next item public hearing item c i will be opening up the hearing for master case number 25-0040 tentative track map number 25-0002 and design review number 25-0011 A request to subdivide one parcel into 37 parcels for single family development, including a density bonus for three affordable residences, and a request for site and architectural review for construction of 37 residential units and associated site improvements and affordable housing density bonus agreements together with related covenant conditions and restrictions provided for a minimum of three affordable units in accordance with the state density bonus law in approximately 5.29 acres located at 7844 Citrus Avenue, assessor parcel number 1110-361-10 pursuant to the previously adopted general plan environmental impact report State Clearinghouse number 2016021099 and pursuant to CEQA guidelines section 15162 and 15183. City Clerk, do we receive any written correspondence on this item?

Not for this item, Chair.

Okay, with no discussion on, or no written correspondence on this item, Alejandro Recon, associate planner, will provide the staff presentation.

Hello. Again, I am Alex Rico. The applicant for this project is RC Homes, represented by Matt Livingston. This project's located at 8666 Citrus Avenue with a tentative track map, 2502, to subdivide one parcel of 5.3 acres into 37 parcels. And it's design review, 25-11, a request for site and architectural review for 37 homes and associated improvements of those parcels. And this is a project site. Staff did get comments and questions from two applicants, or not applicants, excuse me, residents who lived adjacent to the project site. One south to the project site, they had questions about screening. And then I just spoke to one of the residents who lives to the north of the site. They had questions about construction screening and circulation of vehicles as well. This is currently what the site looks like. this is a site plan using the landscape plans two amenities are proposed along the south the west corner and then the pool areas proposed along the northwest area portion of the site there is adequate parking there's currently 4.5 spaces per home which is pretty high and i remind the planning commission that this project is within the form-based code so it's pretty high for the form-based code and access to the site will be from Citrus Avenue for vehicular access, and the access from Toque would be for emergency services only. There are two elevation architecture types proposed. The first is Spanish, so they're using a white paint scheme with some arched windows, some pot shelves, and framed windows with thick frames. And this is the second version of the same design. The second style is a ranch. It has a similar style, but with a different instead of the arched windows, they have the roofed entryways, thick window frames, and the white frames as well. And they have white and a light gray color. And here are the renderings. Based on the information contained in the staff report and subject to attached findings and conditions of approval, staff recommends that the Planning Commission adopt resolution 2026-026. I find that the previously adopted general plan EIR approved in November 13th, 2018 has adequately identified the impacts associated with the project. No further review is required pursuant to section 15162 and 15183 of CEQA and section 8.10 of the local CEQA guidelines from 2019 for implementing CEQA and direct staff to file a notice of exemption, approve tentative traffic map number 25-02, design review number 25-11, and recommend approval of the city council for associated affordable housing density bonus agreement and declaration of covenant conditions and restrictions. The applicant's team and city staff are here to address any questions.

All right, thank you very much Alejandro. City Clerk, are there any requests? Oh, sorry, give me one second. Does the commission have any questions they would like to ask staff?

I have one.

All right, Vice Chair Quintana.

So in regards to the density bonus, there are three units that are classified as very low affordable housing units. Can you elaborate a little bit more on that? What exactly that means? How does it compare to the rest of the units?

It's a calculation that the state uses that the resident would have to pay for their home costs, mortgages, bills, and all that. So it's 50% of the median income for the county of San Bernardino when this gets implemented. And they have to pay 30% of that for housing bills. So that's how it's calculated. So it doesn't matter if it's for rent or for sale. They go by that equation.

Okay, thank you.

Any other questions?

Yes, from Commissioner Roldan. I had a question in regards to the concern of the citizens. Alejandro, what was the purpose of the screening?

So a lot of these projects, there's a water quality management plan and runoff. So we have to make sure that the water adequately drains off site. So some areas have to be lifted. So that will cause some screen issues. So if someone walking at ground level will look over at their neighbor's block wall and see inside. Luckily, that's not an issue here because this project site's actually lower than the adjacent parcels to the north. And then to the south, the applicant's proposing a six foot high combo retaining wall and six foot block wall. So based on the grading plans and preliminary grading plans, that shouldn't be an issue. So at floor level, there shouldn't be screening. They did have concerns about the second floor, but our code doesn't have any requirements to restrict floor plans or anything like that. Intuitively, people looking from the second floor shouldn't be just looking and roaming outside. These windows are in the bedroom area and on the restroom area, so it's not a common open space area. That would be more of a concern if there was a walkway or pathway on the ground level, and those people would be able to look over the block wall and peek into their neighbor's yards. That won't be the case here, and staff works pretty hard to make sure that we prevent that scenario, and it likely will not happen here.

Okay, just making sure those issues would be addressed.

Yes. Yeah, it's something that it's been an ongoing issue for a lot of these projects, but we strive to make sure that that's addressed.

Okay. Thank you, Alejandro. All right. Appreciate it. All right, Commissioner Kittle.

Just going back to the... The bonus density. So are these homes going, these three, to be sold at a lesser price? Is that to account for the affordable housing or rent it at a lower price? Is that how that works?

Yeah. So the amount that they would pay to live there would be off that equation. 50% of the median income and then 30% of that would go towards paying to live there. So our housing department would be the ones enforcing that.

the applicant has a choice either to rent the homes or sell the homes once they're constructed but either way they would have to be affordable got it thank you any other questions from the commission all right with no further questions uh will the applicant please step to the back podium and state your name and whether you accept the conditions of approval

Hi, I'm Matt Livingston. I'm the president of RC Homes. With me is Tim Sales, our vice president of floor planning. Thank you for having us tonight. Thanks for allowing us to be part of your city. This is our second project here, and yes, we do accept the conditions of approval. right you want to tell us a little bit about your project is it a reno is it sale maybe a little bit about what you're yeah it's um it's a uh it's it is they are it is subdivided but we do intend to rent the units it's a single family detached rental project and we have uh had really tremendous success with these types of communities we're really meeting a middle ground for people that no longer want to have the lifestyle living in an apartment building, but they're ready for a single family home experience and want to continue to be a renter and not have or maybe they don't have the down payment or just choose not to want to have more flexibility in their life, but don't want to be in an apartment building. And we've really had tremendous success with these communities. There's certainly a big market need for them. And our intent is, at least for a period of time, if not indefinitely, is to rent out the units, rent out the homes. And it's a well-menetized project. We have a swimming pool. We've got a little leasing office with bathrooms. The homes are kind of the amenity in and of themselves. They all have their own private open space. That, I think, really resonates with people. And the combination of having both a nice swimming pool amenity where people can spread out a bit and meet with their neighbors, and also have their own private space to come home to. I think it serves people very well. There's additionally in the southwest corner of the site, there's additional amenity space. There's a little tot lot there. We find these communities are often filled with families, and having multiple amenities usually is very well received. And there's the beautiful single family homes they have. We are a home builder, so we do a lot of for sale housing as well. These are the same spec level, if not actually better than a lot of what we build because they come fully equipped with full appliance packages. They actually, to the screening question, they actually have window treatments on the second, on first floor and second floor. So that I think also would mitigate any, you know, staring into neighbor's yards. but they're beautiful homes and uh we'd love to give you a tour once they're built assuming we have the project approved all right well thank you very much for that um are there any questions from the commission for the applicant commission commissioner

Roll that. Commissioner, roll that. I'm new to the commission, so just to let everyone know. I do have a question in regards to, you mentioned that there was a project that you worked in the city of Montana. What is the location of that first project?

It's about a mile north of the subject project that we're discussing. It's just west of Citrus at the fire station, which is Chase Road. You would go west on Chase, and you would drive basically right into our community. It's called Glen at Fontana.

Thank you. Secretary Lozano.

Hi. It's a simple question. Is it a gated community?

or is it open no it's not gated thank you any other questions just more of a comment i did review the plans it's a beautiful project thank you for bringing it to the city thank you very much really appreciate that comment all right with that being said um city click are there any city clerk are there any requests to speak on this item none for this item chair All right, so now I will now close this public hearing. Is there any further discussion by the commission or may I have a motion?

Motion to approve Master Case number 25-40, tentative map number 25002.

All right, I got a motion from Secretary Lozano.

Second.

And a second from Commissioner Kittle. Let's go ahead and place our votes. five in favor motion passes all right moving on to our next item public hearing item d i will open the public hearing for master case number twenty five dash zero zero eight eight tentative track map number twenty five dash zero zero zero eight and design review number twenty five dash zero zero three seven a request to establish a condominium map for a multi-family residential development and a request for site architectural approval for construction of new multi-family condominium complex development consisting of 108 townhome units within 18 buildings with associated site improvements on approximately 6.7 acres located near the northwest corner of baseline avenue and palmetto avenue identified as assessor parcel number zero two four zero dash one six one dash twenty nine dash thirty three dash thirty six and dash thirty seven pursuant to the previously adopted feir for the walnut village specific specific plan two zero two three zero five oh two seven city clerk did we receive any written correspondence on this item chair we received one written correspondence on this public hearing and it has been distributed to you and to the other commissioners my fellow commissioners all have a copy of that okay thank you all right so with that being said Cecily session goes A senior planner will provide the staff presentation.

Good evening, commissioners and members of the public. I'm here to present the staff report for the 108 townhome development project. The applicant for this project is Monta Vista Homes, represented by Chris Courtney. I am Cecily Session Goins. The project involves a requested tentative track map in order to establish a condominium map for a multifamily residential development on approximately 6.7 acres, as well as a design review project. for the site and architectural approval for the construction of the 108 new townhome units and the associated site, on-site and off-site improvements. This is the project site. It is located near or adjacent to the parcels at the corner of Baseline Avenue and Palmetto Avenue. It's kind of an L-shaped site with access points or access on Baseline Avenue as well as Palmetto Avenue. The site is located in the Walnut Village specific plan, and this actually will be the first development if approved in the new Walnut Village specific plan that was adopted back in 2024. The specific plan has been in place since 1980, but back in 2024, we rescinded the original specific plan and adopted a new one with a new land use plan for those areas that were underdeveloped or undeveloped in the specific plan. So this is the first application coming forward utilizing those standards. The subject site is approximately 6.7 acres. It is largely undeveloped. However, there are two single family residential structures that will be demolished in order for this development to take place. The two parcels at the northwest corner of Palmetto and Baseline are not a part of this project, and the two single-family residential structures on those parcels will remain in place. As you can see from the kind of street view on the right, obviously taken not in the middle of summer, but you can see that there are no improvements on Palmetto Avenue in front of the project site for that frontage. There also are no improvements on Baseline Avenue. So those will be a part of this project, the full improvements to tie in with the curb, gutter, and sidewalk that are on adjacent frontages. Here is our site plan. As you can see, the project has access points for vehicles and pedestrians on Baseline Avenue as well as Palmetto Avenue. This project is not gated, so it won't have a controlled access. There will be circulation throughout the site using the dry vials and alleys as provided. The units will be both alley loaded or dry vial loaded, and then the ones in the center will be kind of courtyard loaded. So we'll get into those with the elevations so you can kind of see the differences in the units. This project is being requested at an approximate density of about 16 units per acre. The area within the specific plan was designated for 12 to 24 units per acre, so this is right there. in the middle so it's a nice kind of happy medium if you will the applicant is proposing for those living on site the a couple of amenity areas the larger of the two as you can see kind of on the bottom right of the slide will consist of a tot lot an open lawn area tables a table and benches as well as a covering for that area like a picnic covering There also will be bike racks for the parking of bikes. And then kind of up towards the northeastern portion of the site, there will be a small open lawn area with additional benches and also bicycle parking and ample landscaping to kind of create a more passive resident area. passive recreational opportunity to kind of complement the more active space towards the south and central portion of the site. Pedestrians will be able to circulate throughout the site using the walkways through the courtyards as well as the sidewalks on either side of the drive aisles or the alleyways. So that will ensure safety for pedestrians because there will be separation from the vehicles. the for this project the applicant is proposing two architectural styles so there is the spanish style which will feature an exterior light neutral color scheme with dark green accent colors concrete s roof tiles as well as decorative clay pipes arch openings shutters and decorative rafter tails that will really complement the chosen architectural style so you can see that here this is This is one kind of configuration of the Spanish style and you can see all the sides. And then it also opens up into, there are some buildings with more units per building, but you can see that they look similar. The applicant is also proposing the cottage style, which features an exterior light brown color scheme. You see the blue accents. flat concrete roof tile, shutters, gridded windows, horizontal siding as well to complement that style. Both styles will feature decorative exterior lighting, which is suitable for the chosen architectural styles, the roll-up garage doors, and the raised panel unit entry doors. So just to go back, these units will be loaded from the courtyard. And then these units, you can see, will be kind of from the drive aisle. We'll have the front doors facing the drive aisle. So you can kind of see just the difference. They look very similar, just a different configuration of the units and their floor plans. Again, this is the kind of larger configuration of units per building. So you can see how those styles mimic the other slide as well. For this project, we did do, or this project was done in accordance with the environmental impact report that was done for the Walnut Village specific plan back in 2024. After several environmental studies, it was found that the project complies with what was originally studied in the EIR for the Walnut Village specific plan. And it was found to be that no additional mitigation or anything else would need to be done because the EIR itself contemplated this type of use and this intensity of use as such you do have a memo in front of you just where staff is requesting to add conditions to or a condition to both the tentative track map as well as the design review just ensuring that the applicant slash developer comply with the mitigation monitoring and reporting program for that EIR. So it's mentioned throughout the, or in several sections of the resolution, but these conditions will just ensure that there's ongoing compliance with the mitigation measures that were associated with the EIR. So, and with that said, just to read out for the record and for the benefit of the public, the condition will read It will be the same for both the tracked map and the design review, and it will read, the applicant slash developer shall comply with the mitigation, monitoring, or reporting program, MMRP, identified as part of the Walnut Village Specific Plan Environmental Impact Report, which is state clearinghouse number 2023-05027. proposing to place that condition in both the tentative track map as well as the design review with all of that said based on the information contained in the staff report subject to the attached findings and conditions of approval as well as the additional conditions in the memo staff recommends that the planning commission adopt resolution number 2026-027 and determined that the project has been reviewed under a previous final environmental impact report for the walnut village specific plan pursuant to section 15162 through 15164 of the california environmental quality act or sequa guidelines and section 8.10 of the city's 2019 local guidelines for implementing CEQA and direct staff to file a notice of determination. Also approve tentative tract map number 25-0008 and approve design review project number 25-0037. That does conclude my presentation. Staff and the applicant are available for any questions that you may have.

All right, thank you. Does the commission have any questions for staff? all right with no questions for staff uh with the applicant piece uh step to the back podium state your name and whether you accept the conditions of approval yes my name is chris courtney with monovista homes and we do accept the conditions of approval along with the additional condition that cecily mentioned all right uh are there any questions from the commission for the applicant So, Cecily, I should have asked you earlier. I'm just curious, why did we have to add these conditions?

That's a great question. When we were putting together the conditions of approval in the draft resolution, I simply overlooked that standard condition as it relates to a project that is looked at under a previous environmental document. So that was just an omission on my part.

Okay, so it was just something we caught at the end and then we just wanted to make sure we included it then? Yes.

It's kind of implied. I mean, I guess you could say where we looked at it under this environmental document so it would have to comply. And it kind of states as such in the recitals of the resolution. But we wanted to be explicit in the actual conditions since as the project moves along through the plan check and permitting and construction process, the actual conditions of approval are what really stick with the document. They're required to be placed in the plan sets for plan check and for construction purposes. So we wanted to be sure that it didn't kind of get lost in translation. It didn't slip to the back of mind. And so we wanted to ensure that that condition was in there.

All right, well, thank you. Good catch then, I guess, right?

I do have to thank Patty for that, but thank you.

All right, so do you want to tell us a little bit about your project, Chris?

Sure. First, you know, I'd like to thank you. I'm getting used to you guys. I'm going to know you on a first-name basis at this point. But I want to thank you guys all for your time, Cecily and staff, Patty, for all their time and attention on the project and working through this. This project, we've worked diligently with the city to provide three points of entry. We have 108 units. There's two different types, as Cecily mentioned, where they're alley-loaded, and we also have some front-loaded housing. and so it gives some variety we have the tot lot that we're offering because we obviously are intending to have families within the community we've got a sidewalk throughout the project so there's connectivity throughout the third entrance on mellon is an emergency vehicle access that we worked with fire and engineering on to come up with the detail for that so it will be a gated emergency vehicle entrance and exit only. And so it would not be for standard use. The primary entry and exit will be on baseline. Secondary will be on Palmetto. And we also have some paseos that are throughout the project. We're gonna be doing an offsite storm drain as part of the regional infrastructure system for the project. So we're doing a lot of improvements as part of this project. We're actually also doing a raised median and baseline um as part of this so we're excited about the opportunity to build it and uh and then also um you know be able to bring another project to the city of fontana um and uh grateful for the city to um work with us on the design of the um uh you know regional improvements as well the city-wide improvements as far as the baseline improvements and storm drain um so looking forward to doing those and helping the city achieve their cip goals as well on that and that's pretty much it if you guys have any questions uh obviously you know answer any questions you guys might have thank you very much chris do any of my counterparts have any questions for the applicants

the only thing i wanted to ask you chris is is this a rental project or is this a sale project this would be planned to be for sale for sale okay all right thank you all right city clerk are there any requests to speak on this item chair we have two requests to speak uh from donna and the second request is from margarita aguilar all right

Hi, my name is Donna, and I live in Walnut Village, and I'm concerned about that third entrance, that emergency entrance. We have a lot of kids in that area, and God forbid the emergency vehicles, you know, there's an emergency in that compound. Everybody's going to be coming out into Walnut Village. Also, there's 108 units. that means what 300 cars maybe that's going to be in that area and you know right now that area floods and he said he's going to do the infrastructure but you know it's going to be kind of chaotic in the beginning so we're kind of concerned about our children and about that third exit all right thank you marjorie next speaker

Hi, my name is Marguerite Aguilar. If you pull up the project site map, if I may, can you put that up? Can she do that so you can see what I'm trying to talk about? What I'm asking is, my home is right next to where the sign says Palmetto. It's that green patch there. And my understanding is there's not going to be curb and gutter moving forward off of Palmetto. And right now, off a baseline on Palmetto, we've been having numerous accidents from that street constantly. You do your statistics off of the ambulance calls, the fire department calls. We hear... multiple crashes and high speed going down baseline and if we're going to have additional If you're looking at four people in the home, you're looking at about 400 more people that are gonna be in that neighborhood, and they're gonna be coming out of Palmetto and Baseline, and that is a very high-speed area. I don't know if you've driven that, but it's really congested already with traffic. So I'm hoping that you would consider, and we're praying that you would consider putting some streetlights there off of Palmetto and Bayside. My mother-in-law lives in front. If you go back to the project map in the front of it, it would be right there. Anyhow, I just want to make sure you're aware of it and also just wondering if the city's planning to continue with the curb and gutter because we don't have that right now. And it's going to impact the nice... um wonderful planning that they're doing there and the color schematics and right now we have tons of people walking that street a lot of people walk their dogs and there is no uh or there's no sidewalk there at this time on palmetto so i just wanted to address that and then one other thing i know i got what one minute left um water and sewage capacity. We're making sure, you mentioned the storm water and flooding is gonna be taken care of, but we're gonna have a lot of noise and activity, but we already know that already. It's already happening. Just wanted to make sure I addressed that. And then, you guys did an environmental impact, right, in 2024. We're now in 2026, so I don't know if that's something we need to look at again, because that's been back in 2024. So that's something we should look at, you know, to ensure the new development is planned responsibly with clear protections for existing homes, and that is us and the families that live there. Thank you.

Thank you.

That concludes our speakers, Chair.

all right is there any further discussion by the commission or may i have first i need to um close this public hearing now is there any further discussion by the commission or may i have a motion i actually have a question any other questions or discussions all right uh cecily how did our um traffic impact report show with the influx of traffic on that area is is it going to be necessary for a traffic light or are we still good with the stop sign there

So as far as traffic volumes go, the specific plan, when we studied the new specific plan, doing the full program level environmental impact report back in 2024, it was estimated that this site at kind of maximum build out capacity based on the density, the residential density, would generate about 1,180 average daily trips. Because this is proposed to be developed at a lower density than the maximum, we're right at mid-range, It lowers the average daily trips by 470 trips down to 710 trips. So it's even less than what the specific plan and the environmental impact report originally contemplated. As a part of this project, the applicant slash developer is required to do improvements in front of their frontage, so curb, gutter, sidewalk, they'll tie in. to what's there existing, including the landscape area and everything on Palmetto north of the site. They'll taper in the landscape area and then obviously have the sidewalk and the curb and gutter. There will be a traffic signal, and I'll let engineering confirm if I'm incorrect, but there will be a traffic signal there at that intersection to help with traffic patterns, traffic calming, that sort of thing, as well as they're gonna be doing the raise median along baseline, so that'll limit kind of turning movements for safety purposes, on Baseline Avenue, you kind of won't have the road, you know, left turn when you're heading east on Baseline into the site. You'll have to, you know, make that turn at a controlled intersection. So the applicant is being conditioned to, you know, install and or contribute to many of the improvements offsite, as well as developing the site and doing the onsite improvements.

Okay, well, thank you for sharing those improvements with the public, thank you. All right, so moving forward, if there's no further discussion, may I have a question?

Vice Chair Quintana, go ahead. So regarding the three points of entry, right? I think one is an emergency one. Can you elaborate a little bit on why that that third emergency is required and then how if and when we use it and in what event would we use it for because i know we already have two other ones so if you can explain that that'd be great thank you

Absolutely. So this project was reviewed by the fire department and the applicant worked closely with fire to ensure that their requirements were being met. With the number of units and the type of units, I believe that third point of access was requested. Because Mellon Avenue dead ends, so it's not like a cul-de-sac, it kind of dead ends right into the site, that was a kind of natural location for the controlled emergency vehicle access. So it would be locked with like a Knox box, which is what emergency responders will use to be able to open it in case of emergency. I think the emergency vehicle access will work kind of both ways. So if there is some sort of emergency and they can't access the existing homes on Mellon Avenue, they could potentially go through this site in order to unlock the gate using the Knox box lock. sounds like Dr. Seuss, to get to that area as well as the opposite to get onto this site. But there are the two entrance and the access points on Palmetto and on Baseline to be used. So it would be, a very rare case there would have to be a real need for you know emergency vehicles to utilize that controlled access onto melon or from melon onto our our site so it's not anything that is anticipated being used i think it would have to be like a real emergency right so we would there there'd be other issues out there that uh would be very much concerned with along with with uh to gain access to that area correct it would have to be pretty extreme um you know these emergency vehicle access points are located on many projects throughout the city many developments and rarely are they ever actually needed for the access but like i said i think it could be mutually beneficial just depending on which way the emergency vehicles need to go

Yeah, that's good. It also provides access to that street as well, the Mellon, right?

Yes.

Yep. Okay. Last question for me. The EIR, was there any significant changes to the EIR in 2024 or today from when this was reviewed in 2024 that would require us to revise or change it?

So there were no changes made. There were not any changes made to the environmental impact report. So that document, it's a program level document, right? So it's looking at the potential of development throughout that specific plan area, especially of... It looked at the potential changes to land uses, both at this area, also kind of at the northern portion of the specific plan that's kind of vacant at Sierra and South Highland. It looked a lot at Sierra and Baseline as well. So it looked at land use changes. It anticipated traffic, air, noise, greenhouse gas, all of the areas. It studied all of that. to see what kind of mitigation would be necessary to mitigate the additional development. So under that document as kind of our base, then this project was looked at closely on a project level to see if there was anything outside of the realm of what was contemplated that would make a difference or that could not be mitigated using those mitigation measures. that are part of the mitigation monitoring and reporting program. And it was found to be that there was nothing that would necessitate additional mitigation, like everything that was contemplated for the specific plan kind of falls, this project falls under that umbrella. air quality, GHG, energy, noise, traffic, that sort of thing. It all kind of was what was considered and actually was less because it's developed to a lesser density. So it wasn't found that we would even necessarily need an addendum to the environmental impact report because all of the levels and everything that was studied was under that umbrella.

All right, thank you. Sure.

Commissioner Nikito.

So just going back to the emergency evacuation route. To be clear, this isn't I think one of the concerns was that it was kind of kind of be like an empty alley. This really is just, it's actually a connection to the existing neighborhood, correct. So it's not this, in my opinion, and what I'm seeing is probably going to reduce the amount of either transient traffic or, or people hanging around because it is really a continuation of the existing development that's just to the west of this project. Am I understanding that correctly?

That's correct. So it will connect directly, but it will be, you know, basically no access. It will be closed off.

But there will be a home on each side of this street, and then there's homes right behind it. So it's really just almost like a continuation of Mellon. Exactly. It's not like an abandoned alleyway or anything like that.

Exactly. And the applicant was very careful in his consideration of, you know, making sure that that was an emergency vehicle access and that it wasn't necessarily like free flowing traffic into and out of the site to impact the adjacent residential to the west. But also seeing that that's a kind of natural point where emergency vehicles could use, that emergency vehicles could use if the extreme case were to arise, it seemed like it made the most sense. And when I say emergency vehicle access, I think ultimately those vehicles will be able to make all of the turning radiuses and all of that throughout the site to be able to use the access points on Palmetto and on Baseline. I think it would be that extreme case. that they would need to open up the gate and go through um it wouldn't be like you know someone's having a heart attack or something like that you know they would i'm thinking like multiple houses are on fire in between the two projects right thank you all right with no further discussion by the commission may i have a motion i'll make a motion to approve

Master Case 25-0088, which also includes the memo that was provided to us for the addition to add the condition to both the tentative track map number 25-008, which is condition number 4A, and design review number 26-0037, which is condition number 10A. Second.

All right, we got a motion by Vice Chair Quintana and a second by Commissioner Kittle. Let's go and raise our votes.

Five in favor, the motion passes.

All right, and luckily, a lot of people got to stick around today. So for the most exciting part of our meeting, which is our Director of Communications, comments.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I do have a comment. Good.

Wow.

I'd like to recognize actually two birthdays that occurred recently. One is our chairperson had a birthday within the last week, and we wouldn't want to forget that. And our vice chair had a birthday earlier in the month. So I thought, why not sing? Shall we sing happy birthday? Can the others join me? I'm horrible. You're going to want to join me to drown me out. But I thought we would do that. So are you amenable to that, everyone? Great. Happy birthday to you. happy birthday to you happy birthday dear commissioner chair and vice chair happy birthday to you good payback patty good payback and with that i'm finished thank you so much all right great so thank you very much for your uh communications now moving on to commissioner comments we will start it off with commissioner keto

Just want to say thanks so much to the staff. We reviewed quite a few projects today, and you guys are always so well prepared. So thank you so much, Director Nevins. Your staff is amazing. Happy birthday to my two counterparts up here. I'm happy to be back after training. I'm glad that's all over. I'm glad to be back at home and back working with the city and the commission. I'm thankful to the city and to the city council for allowing me to do this. It's such a great honor, and I really do enjoy it. I hope all the kids enjoy going back to school this week. Best of luck, and may God bless our city.

Thank you.

Thank you very much, Commissioner Ketel. And moving on to Commissioner Roldan.

First off, I would like to say happy birthday to our two commissioners. Congratulations. You made it another year and many more. I want to thank the staff. for putting together the projects and putting on a very exceptional presentation. As a new commissioner, it was very easy for me to ingest and also digest this material.

So thank you very much.

Also, it's a pleasure to be on the commission, and I hope I am an asset, and right now I'm in the learning process, so the more I'm up here, the more I learn. Thank you very much, and everyone have a great evening and a great week.

All right, Secretary Lozano.

Thank you, Chair. I just want to say thank you to the Planning Department. Thank you for the wonderful presentations today, Mr. Rico and Ms. Session Goins. Great presentations. Happy to hear about the affordable housing that's coming into Fontana. Also, happy birthday to Chair and Vice Chair again. And welcome again to Gilbert and... We're glad to have you back, Dylan. And I just hope everyone has a great evening. Be safe. And like I always say, stay hydrated.

all right vice chair quintana yep so thank you to staff for the excellent presentations always appreciated it was exciting for me sb 330 project landed in front of us again today density bonus also so if it wasn't for staff preparing us for these things we would be lost so thank you so much for making it very digestible and understanding the other thing I want to say is across the street we have the national night out for the police so after this meeting you can all head out there and break bread and shake hands that'd be great and lastly it's always a pleasure to serve on this dais with these commissioners and it's a pleasure to do so so thank you for that and have a good night

All right, and now my comments. First, I want to apologize to Alejandro Rico for butchering his name all day because I'm trying to do the sound out version instead of just, when I look at his name, I'm like, that's a pretty easy one to say. So Alejandro, I apologize. But other than that, again, Patty, I echo the words of, Vice Chair Quintana because I think the seminar and stuff that we were able to go to and the clinic that we had here have really prepared us for a lot of these projects that are coming in front of us and being able to understand the concept of them. So I just ask that we continue to move forward with the educational aspect of it for this team because I think moving forward it's better to have that clearer understanding and it really helps us to not ask as many questions. Yes.

Yeah.

Yeah, just get some refreshers and maybe cover one or two different things. That way Gil can get caught up as well, you know, give him some of those classes too. So it's really, I think it's really beneficial to us. I know it creates some questions, but I think it's more impactful and educational to the whole team. So thank you very much for that again. So again, like everybody says, your team does an amazing job at just making sure that we're informed and covering any of our questions ahead of time. So thank you very much. And also, Just want to reiterate the National Night Out. Take an opportunity to go across the street or actually right behind us and visit some of our great law enforcement team and our firefighters and check out all the little cool stuff they have out there. You know, just enjoy the day. Just hope everybody has a blessed week and look forward to seeing everybody when we come back. So with that being said, I'll move forward with the adjournment. We'll be adjourning to the next regular planning commission meeting on Tuesday, August 18th, 2026 at 6 p.m. in the Stillworker Autoportorium located at 8437 Sierra Avenue, Fontana, California. This meeting is now adjourned.