Notice of Preparation and Notice of Public Scoping Meeting Fontana North Walmart Project Date: Monday, February 22, 2016 To: From: Subject: Public Agencies and Interested Parties Orlando Hernandez, Senior Planner, Notice of Preparation of an Environmental Impact Report and Public Scoping Meeting The will be the Lead Agency and will prepare an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the project identified herein. The project description, location, and probable environmental effects of the Fontana North Walmart Project are described in the attached materials. The is soliciting comments from public agencies, organizations, and members of the public regarding the scope and content of the EIR, and the environmental issues and alternatives to be addressed in the EIR. Public agencies may need to use the EIR when considering permitting or other approvals that are germane to the agencies responsibilities in connection with the projects. Because of time limits mandated by state law, public agencies must submit any comments in response to this notice at the earliest possible date but not later than 30 days after receipt of this notice. The City also will accept comments from other interested parties regarding this notice during this time period. Accordingly, please provide your written response to the address shown below by 5:00 p.m., Tuesday, March 22, 2016. If you wish to be placed on the notification list for this project, or if you have any questions or need additional information, please contact the person below. Mr. Orlando Hernandez, Senior Planner 8533 Sierra Avenue Fontana, CA 92335 Phone: (909) 350 6602 Fax: (909) 350 6588 Email: ohernandez@fontana.org Public Scoping Meeting A public scoping meeting will be held at on Wednesday, March 16, 2016 starting at 6:00 p.m. at Fontana City Hall, Development Services DAB Room, 8353 Sierra Avenue, Fontana, CA 92335. At this meeting, public agencies, organizations, and members of the public will be able to review the proposed project application materials and provide comments on the scope of the environmental review process.
Fontana North Walmart Project Notice of Preparation FONTANA NORTH WALMART PROJECT Project Location The project site is located in the, San Bernardino County, California (Exhibit 1). The 27.41 acre project site is bounded by Juniper Avenue (west), South Highland Avenue (north), Sierra Avenue (east), and undeveloped land (south) (Exhibit 2). The project site is located on the Devore, California, United States Geological Survey 7.5 minute topographic quadrangle map, Township 1 North, Range 5 West, Section 31 (Latitude 34 07 53 North; Longitude 117 26 17 West). Existing Conditions 1.1.1 Land Use Activities The project site contains undeveloped land. Scrub vegetation and cobbles are present throughout the site. Several trees are present, including a large pepper tree near the Sierra Avenue frontage. The project site gently slopes from north to south and elevations range from 1,480 feet above mean sea level to 1,505 feet above mean sea level. A cell tower site that is enclosed with a metal fence is located in the northwestern portion of the site. The cell tower site features a monopole camouflaged as a palm tree, as well as an actual palm tree. Electrical equipment located on a concrete pad is present at the base of the monopole. The Highland Avenue and Sierra Avenue frontages are improved with curb and gutter, while the Juniper Avenue frontage is unimproved. An OmniTrans bus turnout is present on Sierra Avenue, south of the Highland Avenue intersection. 1.1.2 Land Use Designations The project site is designated General Commercial with a Boulevard Overlay on the eastern portion of the site by the General Plan and zoned Fontana Promenade Specific Plan. Project Description 1.1.3 Proposed Project The project applicant is proposing to develop up to 234,959 square feet of commercial uses on the project site. For the purpose of providing a conservative, worst case evaluation of project impacts, the total project will be evaluated at 244,000 square feet. Table 1 summarizes the proposed project. Exhibit 3 depicts the conceptual site plan. FirstCarbon Solutions 2 S:\01440047 Fontana North Walmart\NOP\Fontana North Walmart Project NOP.docx
Fontana North Walmart Project Notice of Preparation Table 1: Fontana North Walmart Project Summary Parcel Acre(s) Characteristics To be Evaluated in EIR Walmart 19.72 Walmart 193,879 square feet 203,284 square feet Outparcel 1 1.40 Sit Down Restaurant 8,500 square feet 8,500 square feet Outparcel 2 0.81 Fast Food Restaurant with Drive Thru 3,000 square feet 3,000 square feet Outparcel 3 0.51 Retail 3,600 square feet 3,600 square feet Outparcel 4 1.84 Restaurant/Retail 15,500 square feet 15,500 square feet Outparcel 5 0.92 Outparcel 6 0.94 Outparcel 7 1.27 Fast Food Restaurant with Drive Thru 3,500 square feet Fast Food Restaurant with Drive Thru 2,900 square feet Gas Station with Convenience Market six pumps (12 fueling positions); 4,080 square feet Total 27.41 234,959 square feet; six pumps (12 fueling positions) Source: Nasland Engineering, 2015. 3,500 square feet 2,900 square feet Six pumps (12 fueling positions); 4,080 square feet 244,000 square feet; six pumps (12 fueling positions) Walmart The proposed project would be anchored by a 193,879 square foot Walmart store set against the Juniper Avenue frontage. For the purpose of providing a conservative, worst case evaluation of project impacts, the Walmart store will be evaluated at 203,284 square feet. The store would operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and retail grocery and general merchandise. The store would also retail alcohol (beer, wine, and liquor) for off site consumption. In accordance with state law, alcohol sales would be prohibited between the hours of 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. Outparcels Seven outparcels with a combined development potential of 40,716 square feet are proposed around the perimeter of the site, along the South Highland Avenue and Sierra Avenue frontages. Three outparcels would support fast food restaurants with drive thrus; one would support a sitdown restaurant; one would support a gas station with convenience market; one would support retail; and one would support a combination of restaurant (non drive thru) and retail uses. At the time of NOP issuance, no specific tenants have been identified for any of the outparcels. For the purposes of the analysis in the EIR, all outparcel uses would operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (including drive thrus). Additionally, the gas station would employ the use of underground storage tanks for the storage of petroleum products. Finally, the sit down restaurant and the non FirstCarbon Solutions 3 S:\01440047 Fontana North Walmart\NOP\Fontana North Walmart Project NOP.docx
Fontana North Walmart Project Notice of Preparation drive thru restaurants would serve alcohol (beer, wine, and liquor) for on site consumption. In accordance with state law, alcohol sales would be prohibited between the hours of 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. Vehicular Access Points The project site would be served by five vehicular access points from public roadways. Sierra Avenue A signalized full access point would be provided in the southeastern corner of the project site on Sierra Avenue, and would provide shared access to the proposed project and the planned commercial development to the south. A right in, right out access point would also be provided on Sierra Avenue, approximately 450 feet north of the signalized access point. South Highland Avenue A signalized full access point would be provided on South Highland Avenue and would be aligned with a driveway that serves the car dealerships on the north side of the street. A right in, right out access point would also be provided on South Highland Avenue, approximately 400 feet east of the signalized access point. Juniper Avenue An unsignalized full access point would be provided in Juniper Avenue, approximately 140 feet south of South Highland Avenue. This point would serve as the truck access to the Walmart store. Note that no other vehicular access points are proposed on Juniper Avenue to avoid conflicts with Wayne Rubble Middle School. Additionally, the intersection of South Highland Avenue/Juniper Avenue is proposed to be improved with a signal and turn lanes in conjunction the proposed project. Reciprocal Access Finally, the proposed project would permit internal reciprocal access to the planned commercial development to the south. Parking The proposed project would provide 1,198 off street parking spaces. No on street parking would be permitted along the project frontage with Juniper Avenue, South Highland Avenue, or Sierra Avenue. Landscaping The proposed project would provide 216,530 square feet of landscaping through the project site (22.5 percent). Landscaping would consist of shade trees, street trees, accent trees, shrubs, and groundcover. Public Transit, Bicycles, and Pedestrians The location of existing OmniTrans bus stop on Sierra Avenue would be maintained, and the bus stop would be enhanced with a shelter. FirstCarbon Solutions 4 S:\01440047 Fontana North Walmart\NOP\Fontana North Walmart Project NOP.docx
Fontana North Walmart Project Notice of Preparation The existing sidewalk on South Highland Avenue would be maintained. Portions of the existing sidewalk on Sierra Avenue would be maintained; however, other portions would be removed and replaced with a new 6 foot wide sidewalk with landscaped strip. A new 6 foot wide sidewalk would be installed along the project frontage with Juniper Avenue. A 6 foot wide pedestrian connection would link the Juniper Avenue sidewalk (near the entrance to Wayne Rubble Middle School) with the proposed Sierra Avenue signalized access point. Bicycle storage facilities would be provided near all buildings. Required Discretionary Approvals The proposed project requires the following discretionary approvals from the : Specific Plan Amendment Tentative Parcel Map Conditional Use Permit Design Review The proposed amendment to the Fontana Promenade Specific Plan (Specific Plan Amendment No. 2) would split the existing 44.71 acre Planning Area 1 into two Planning Areas: Planning Area 1, which consists of the project site (27.41 acres), and new Planning Area 12, which consists of the remaining 17.30 acres between the project s southern boundary and Walnut Avenue. There are no specific end users for Planning Area 12, but the Specific Plan Amendment has allocated 250,000 square feet of retail for that area. Environmental Review 1.1.4 Potential Environmental Effects The EIR will evaluate whether the proposed project may potentially result in one or more significant environmental effects, which will be evaluated in the relevant EIR sections listed below. Aesthetics, Light, and Glare Air Quality/Greenhouse Gas Emissions Biological Resources Cultural Resources Geology, Soils, and Seismicity Hazards and Hazardous Materials Hydrology and Water Quality Land Use Noise Public Services and Utilities Transportation Urban Decay 1.1.5 Effects Found Not To Be Significant Unless specific comments are received during the NOP public comment period that indicate a potential for the project to result in significant impacts, the following issues will be addressed in the Effects Found not to be Significant section of the EIR. FirstCarbon Solutions 5 S:\01440047 Fontana North Walmart\NOP\Fontana North Walmart Project NOP.docx
Fontana North Walmart Project Notice of Preparation Agriculture and Forest Resources The project site contains undeveloped land and is not used for either agricultural or timber production activities. The California Department of Conservation Farmland Mapping and Monitoring Program classifies the project site as Other Land, which is a non agricultural designation. Additionally, the project site is zoned Fontana Promenade Specific Plan, which is a non agricultural and non forest land use designation, and is not encumbered by a Williamson Act contract. This condition precludes the possibility of adverse impacts to agricultural and forest resources. Mineral Resources The project site contains undeveloped land and does not support mineral extraction operations. Neither the State nor the designates the project site as a location of known mineral deposits. These conditions preclude the possibility of a loss of mineral resources of statewide or local importance. No impacts would occur. Population and Housing The proposed project would develop new commercial uses on the project site; no residential uses are proposed. As such, no direct population growth would occur. Additionally, the project site does not contain any existing dwelling units, which precludes the possibility of displacement of existing residents. No impacts would occur. Recreation The proposed project would not facilitate direct population growth and, thus, would not increase demand for parks or recreational facilities. Additionally, the project site does not propose to construct new or modify existing recreational facilities, which precludes the possibility of related physical impacts on the environment. No impacts would occur. Scoping Meeting A public scoping meeting will be held on Wednesday, March 16, 2016 starting at 6:00 pm, at the following location: Fontana City Hall Development Services DAB Room 8353 Sierra Avenue Fontana, CA 92335 At this meeting, agencies, organizations, and members of the public will be able to review the proposed project and provide comments on the scope of the environmental review process. FirstCarbon Solutions 6 S:\01440047 Fontana North Walmart\NOP\Fontana North Walmart Project NOP.docx
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Source: Nasland, 2015 I 01440047 12/2015 3_siteplan.cdr Exhibit 3 Conceptual Site Plan CITY OF FONTANA FONTANA NORTH WALMART PROJECT NOTICE OF PREPARATION