3.0 PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Transcription

1 3.0 PROJECT DESCRIPTION 3.1 BACKGROUND Under California law (Government Code Section et seq.), every city and county is required to have a general plan. The general plan is to be comprehensive and long range in perspective. For cities, the general plan guidelines the physical development of the incorporated city, plus any land outside city boundaries that has a relationship to the city s planning activities. The project analyzed in this Program Environmental Impact Report (EIR) is the adoption and long-term implementation of the Fontana Forward General Plan and subsequent amendments to Article IV (Zoning Districts) of Chapter 30 of the Fontana Municipal Code (Zoning and Development Code) adopted to implement the updated General Plan. The Fontana Forward plan includes these elements, stand-alone or combined as required by statue (Government Code Section 65302): land use; circulation; housing; conservation and open space combined; noise and safety combined; as aspects of several other elements. In addition, the plan includes optional elements on health, economic development, infrastructure, sustainability and resilience, and a Downtown Area Plan. The Fontana Forward General Plan, will continue to serve as the blueprint for the City by setting forth goals, policies, and programs that will guide the long-term physical development and quality of life in the community. The primary focus of the Fontana Forward Plan is to: 1) update the Land Use Policy Map to target revitalization efforts; 2) ensure that the Circulation Element comports with the amended land use plan and addresses all current planning laws; 3) update elements to incorporate provisions that respond to State laws adopted since 2003 (the date of adoption of the current General Plan), and 4) update other elements to reflect updated baseline conditions and to refine policies to reflect current City practices and programs. The City has established 2035 as the horizon year for the updated General Plan, meaning that 2035 represents the year by which the City would expect that the General Plan s policies and programs would be realized, and a new comprehensive review of the plan may be warranted. This EIR has been prepared in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) (Public Resource Code, Section et seq.) and the State CEQA Guidelines (California Code of Regulations, Section et seq.). This EIR is a Program EIR prepared in accordance with State CEQA Guidelines Section Section allows for the preparation of a Program EIR for a series of actions that can be characterized as a single project. 3-1

2 3.2 PROJECT LOCATION The City of Fontana is located in southern San Bernardino County. Fontana is located in a valley and is adjacent to major roadways, including Interstates 10 and 15 as well as State Route 210. Because of the city s proximity to these major roadways, the City has been growing rapidly with industrial, commercial, and residential development expanding northward. The City encompasses approximately 52 square miles, including the City s Sphere of Influence (SOI). Of this land area, 6,000 acres (11,000 acres in the SOI) are designated for commercial and industrial uses. With the city s close vicinity to key roadways, trucking-based industries and warehouse distribution centers for large companies have flourished in Fontana, including distribution centers for Target and Mercedes Benz. The City is also home to a major-medical center, Kaiser Permanente, which attracts employees and patients to Fontana. 3.3 EXISTING GENERAL PLAN The current City of Fontana General Plan was adopted in The following twelve chapters comprise the General Plan: 1. Introduction 2. Executive Summary 3. Land Use Element 4. Circulation Element 5. Housing Element 6. Community Design Element 7. Economic Development Element 8. Open Space & Conservation Element 9. Parks, Recreation, and Trails Element 10. Safety Element 11. Noise Element 12. Air Quality Element The Housing Element was completed and approved in 2014 before the General Plan Update and will be updated again in 2021, as required by state law. 3-2

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5 hubster wuz here july carry on... Riverside Ave. RANCHO CUCAMONGA Wilson Ave. Mango Ave. RIALTO East Ave. Foothill Blvd. Catawba Ave. Palmetto Ave. 210 Base Line Rd. Randall Ave. Maple Ave. 10 ONTARIO S a n B e r n ardino C o u nty Etiwanda Ave. Valley Blvd. Tamarind Ave. Alder Ave. 10 BLOOMINGTON Jurupa Ave. R i v e r s i d e County City of Fontana Fontana Sphere of Influence ± Miles Kilometers }þ 6 0 Figure Aerial Photograph of the City of Fontana and Surrounding Area Document Path: V:\1858\resource\GIS_\_mxds\City of Fontana_General Plan Update_figure 3_3_3.mxd

6 3.4 FONTANA FORWARD GENERAL PLAN UPDATE Every city and county in California must prepare a comprehensive, long-term general plan to guide future development in that jurisdiction. California state law requires each city and county to adopt a general plan for the physical development of the county or city, and any land outside its boundaries which bears relation to its planning (California Government Code, Section 65300). A general plan expresses the community s development goals and embodies public policies relative to the distribution of future land uses, both public and private. The proposed Land Use, Zoning and Urban Design Element establishes an overall development capacity for the City and serves as a policy guide for determining the appropriate physical character of the City s approximately 37 miles of incorporated area, with an additional 15 square miles in the City s SOI. The highest concentration of development is within the central City Core area, which includes single- and multi-family dwelling units and numerous businesses located along Sierra Avenue, the main north-south corridor in the City. Industrial development is located primarily along I-10 in the southern portion of the city and in the western SOI. This area also contains the California Speedway and over 5,000 predominantly single-family residences. The most northern edge of the city and the northern SOI are largely undeveloped, with some agricultural uses and scattered residential development. The Zoning and Development Code and Area Plan serve as the primary tools to implement General Plan land use policies. Zoning districts that correspond to General Plan land use designations establish use regulations, development standards, and design criteria for all types of development in Fontana. Following adoption of the Fontana Forward plan, the City will undertake focused amendments to the Zoning and Development Code to achieve consistency between these documents and the General Plan. Thus, subsequent amendments to the Zoning Code to implement the Fontana Forward General Plan described below are considered as part of the project. 3.5 UPDATED CHAPTERS/ ELEMENTS The Fontana Forward General Plan covers a broad range of topics in sixteen chapters. These chapters or elements include a summary of existing conditions and current trends, the planning process, and goals, policies and actions for many different topic areas that will affect the physical and economic development of the city over the next twenty years. The chapters are grouped into five sections, each of which starts with a summary of the contents of that section. Each chapter is composed of several sections: the topic as expressed in the Vision and Principles; a table of Goals and Policies; Findings and Challenges that summarize key existing conditions; What the Community Said, with relevant public engagement comments; and a section of Policies and Actions to Achieve the Goals. Chapter 14 is a Downtown Area Plan whose somewhat modified organization reflects the nature of its content. Chapter 16 includes an action plan matrix that covers all topic chapters. The General Plan can be read all the way through or selectively, according to the reader s interests. Table illustrates the key components of the 2003 General Plan versus the 2018 General Plan Update. In addition, a 3-6

7 summary on each new element of the Fontana Forward General Plan is provided below for further clarification. Table Key Components of the 2003 General Plan Versus the 2018 General Plan Update 2003 General Plan Update 2018 General Plan Update Chapter 1 Introduction Chapter 2 Executive Summary Chapter 3 Land Use Element Chapter 4 Circulation Element Chapter 5 Housing Element Chapter 6 Community Design Element Chapter 7 Economic Development Element Chapter 8 Public Facilities, Services & Infrastructure Element Chapter 9 Open Space & Conservation Element Chapter 10 Parks, Recreation & Trails Element Chapter 11 Safety Element Chapter 12 Noise Element Chapter 13 - Air Quality Element Chapter 1 Vision and Principals Chapter 2 Trends for Fontana s Future Chapter 3 Engaging the Fontana Community Chapter 4 Community and Neighborhoods Chapter 5 - Housing Chapter 6 Building a Healthier Fontana Chapter 7 Conservation, Open Space, Parks and Trails Chapter 8 Public and Community Services Chapter 9 - Community Mobility and Circulation Chapter 10 - Infrastructure and Green Systems Chapter 11 - Noise and Safety Element Chapter 12 - Sustainability and Resilience Chapter 13 - Economy, Education, and Workforce Development Chapter 14 - Downtown Area Plan Chapter 15 - Land Use, Zoning, and Urban Design Chapter 16 - Stewardship and Implementation Chapter 4: Community and Neighborhoods This Element focuses on attributes that contribute to the form, character and quality of life in the communities and neighborhoods where people live. This includes historic resources that link Fontana to its past, the City s neighborhood types, and discussion of potential housing options for both market-rate and affordable housing as Fontana grows. A separate, required Housing Element, prepared using the required methodology and approved by the State, covers the years A summary of the Housing Element appears in Chapter Chapter 5: Housing This chapter of the General Plan Update provides a summary of the State-approved Housing Element, prepared according to State requirements and on the State timetable Chapter 6: Health and Wellness This element identifies a shared vision and set of values for addressing health and wellness within Fontana, including goals for the future physical development that will result in a healthier city. As a chapter of the General Plan Update, the Health and Wellness Element provides high-level 3-7

8 goals; policies, strategies, and performance measures to achieve the goals; and an implementation program of actions to improve health. Since 2004, the City s Healthy Fontana program has made health and wellness a priority, especially with efforts to promote healthy eating and physical activity, as well as development patterns that support a healthy lifestyle Chapter 7: Conservation, Open Space, Parks and Trails Open space and parks are very important to Fontana residents and a key aspect of what they like about living in Fontana. They want existing parks to be well-maintained and improved, and they support the addition of new parks and trails. Moreover, residents recognize the importance of conserving sensitive lands, such as the foothills at the north and south edges of the city, and they would like to see more opportunities for nature-based recreation for example, hiking trails in these locations Chapter 8: Public and Community Services Department This Element of the Fontana Forward Plan focuses on three important aspects of municipal service provision: public safety, public facilities, and the many services provided by the Community Services department. Fontana residents are generally very satisfied with the public services and facilities provided by the City. Continuing this high level of service provision while making improvements is the theme of this element of the plan Chapter 9: Community Mobility and Circulation The Community Mobility and Circulation Element has been updated to expand the options for transit and active transportation (pedestrian and bicycle mobility) for Fontana. It is aligned with the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy concepts of Neighborhood Mobility Areas and Livable Corridors. These concepts are adapted for the Fontana General Plan Update as Connected Neighborhoods and mixed-use development along the central segments of Sierra Avenue, Foothill Boulevard, and Valley Boulevard to form Fontana s Livable Corridors Chapter 10: Infrastructure and Green Systems Fontana s public infrastructure systems and facilities represent over $1.4 billion of investment made by previous and current generations and are critical to economic prosperity and quality of life. Fontana depends on regional agencies and privately-owned utilities for many infrastructure services, including drinking water, wastewater treatment, and power, and it is subject to state standards and regulations. State legislation promotes resource-efficient infrastructure systems. The Fontana Department of Public Works is responsible for maintenance of city property, including parks and trails, streets, sewer lines and lift stations, and City buildings; for stormwater management; and for maintaining the City fleet. 3-8

9 3.5.8 Chapter 11: Noise and Safety Element The main goal of this chapter is to combine the Goals and Policies of the Noise and Safety Elements of the 2003 General Plan into one Noise and Safety Element supported by detailed recent data in the Hazard Mitigation Plan Chapter 12: Sustainability and Resilience In this element, sustainability and resilience is focused especially on resource efficiency and planning for climate change. However, the reality is that sustainability and resilience are broader concepts that are increasingly embedded in a wide range of community values and activities health, transportation, land use, open space preservation, and infrastructure and reflected in the General Plan elements on these topics Chapter 13: Economy, Education, and Workforce Development This Element of the Fontana Forward Plan focuses on providing more jobs in Fontana for Fontana residents by promoting a diversified economy that builds on existing businesses and develops, attracts and retains future job-creating sectors. This Element creates incentives to attract new retailers and restaurants to locate in the Downtown Area Plan District. In addition, this Element explores creation of an incubator and/or coworking space for start-up businesses Chapter 14: Downtown Area Plan This Element of the Fontana Forward Plan encourages a mix of uses in the downtown core, appealing to a wide range of customer types, with a focus on families. This Element will ensure that new infill development is compatible in scale and character with the existing neighborhood while ensuring that transportation and utility infrastructure keeps pace with the neighborhood character Chapter 15: Land Use, Zoning, and Urban Design The Land Use, Zoning, and Urban Design Element includes an amended Land Use Plan. The amendments will provide new development opportunities in targets areas and along corridors that can accommodate such development. The strategy behind these targeted land use changes is to identify focus areas in the City that will benefit from allowing property owners to maximize development potential on vacant or underutilized properties. The amended Land Use Plan includes: The Future Land Use Map established two new mixed-use categories for Walkable Mixed Use (WMU). These categories are very different in character from the land use categories that have been retained from the Existing Land Use Map. 3-9

10 Walkable Mixed-Use Downtown and Corridors (WMXU-1) residential densities range from 24 to 39 dwelling units per acre and non-residential uses have a maximum Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of 2.0. Walkable Mixed-Use Urban Village (WMXU-2) residential densities range from 12 to 24 dwelling units per acre, and non-residential uses can have up to an FAR of Chapter 16: Stewardship and Implementation This chapter of the General Plan Update discusses overall stewardship of the plan to keep it useful and current by creating systems and procedures to make sure that the plan is used to guide decision-making and that it is evaluated regularly to see if strategies are working and if it continues to reflect community goals. 3.6 LAND USE ACREAGE COMPARISON Two new mixed-use land use designations have been established (WMXU-1 & WMXU-2), which total approximately 2,057 acres of new mixed-use land uses. Table is a chart of the difference in acreages of the 2003 General Plan and the 2018 General Plan Update. Table Difference in Acreages of the 2003 General Plan and the 2018 General Plan Update Land Use 2003 General Plan (acres)** 2018 General Plan Update (acres)* Difference +/- Residential 15,723 15, Commercial 2,425 1,170-1,255 Industrial 8,149 8, Mixed-Use 1,075 2,564 +1,489 Public 3,710 3, Open Space 1,569 1, Total 33,428* 33,454* NOTES: *Source: General Plan Update (Chapter 15), City of Fontana **Source: 2003 Environmental Impact Statement, City of Fontana * Total acreage includes roads and right-of-way not shown on chart 3-10