For the Planning Commission Meeting of February 4, 2026
TO: Honorable Chairman and Planning Commissioners
APPROVAL: Christina Taylor, Director of Community Development
REVIEWED BY: Daniel Casey, Community Development Manager
FROM: Jason Costa, Associate Planner
Title
Conditional Development Permit No. 2025-0006, Precise Plan of Design No. 2025-0011, and Environmental Assessment Review No. 2025-0008: A proposal to establish a small collection recycling center consisting of three connected metal structures, totaling 415 square feet, on five parking spaces in the rear parking lot in the northwest corner of an existing 4.08-acre shopping center located at 592 West Foothill Boulevard (APN: 0127-572-37) within the Foothill Mixed Use Zone (FMUZ) of the Foothill Central Specific Plan (FCSP). The project is Exempt in accordance with the categorical exemption requirements of the California Environmental Act (CEQA) Section 15303 - New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures. Staff reviewed the project under Environmental Assessment Review No. 25-0008.
Body
APPLICANT:
Christopher Salazar, 26860 Emerett Lane, Perris, CA 92571.
LOCATION:
The project site consists of one (1) parcel of land (APN: 0127-572-37) located at 592 West Foothill Boulevard (Exhibit A). The parcel is one of five parcels that make up a commercial shopping center in the Foothill Mixed Use Zone of the Foothill Central Specific Plan.
BACKGROUND:
Surrounding Land Use and Zoning
|
Location |
Existing Land Use |
Zoning |
|
Site |
Commercial Businesses |
FCSP Foothill Mixed Use Zone (FMUZ) |
|
North |
Single-Family Residences |
Single Family Residential (R-1C) |
|
South |
Commercial Businesses |
FCSP Foothill Mixed Use Zone (FMUZ) |
|
East |
Commercial Businesses |
FCSP Foothill Mixed Use Zone (FMUZ) |
|
West |
Commercial Businesses |
FCSP Foothill Mixed Use Zone (FMUZ) |
General Plan Designations
|
Location |
General Plan Designation |
|
Site |
Specific Plan Overlay (SP) |
|
North |
Residential 6 (R6) |
|
South |
Specific Plan Overlay (SP) |
|
East |
Specific Plan Overlay (SP) |
|
West |
Specific Plan Overlay (SP) |
Site Characteristics
The project site is on the north side of West Foothill Boulevard between North Cactus Avenue to the west and North Lilac Avenue to the east. It is in an existing commercial center with commercial buildings, parking areas, landscaping, and street access. The project structure will be placed in an approximately 7,372 square-foot parking lot in the northwest corner of the commercial center.
Surrounding Area
The properties to the north are single-family residences in a Single Family Residential (R-1C) zone. The properties to the south (across West Foothill Boulevard) are vacant parcels. The properties to the east and to the west are existing commercial uses. The south, east, and west parcels are in the Foothill Mixed Use Zone of the Foothill Central Specific Plan.
ANALYSIS/DISCUSSION:
Project Proposal
The applicant proposes to establish a small collection recycling facility to be known as Eco-Revolution Recycling. Small collection recycling facilities are defined by the Rialto Municipal Code as facilities that “occupy an area of not more than 500 square feet and may include Kiosk type units”. According to the site plan and floor plan (Exhibits B & C), the applicant will place a kiosk and two containers, 415 square feet in total, within five (5) parking spaces in the northwest parking lot of the project site.
Operations
The facility will operate from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Sunday. Operations will include the following activities:
• Collection of California Redemption Value (CRV) aluminum cans, plastic and glass bottles from the public.
• CRV materials are redeemed for cash.
• Collected materials are weighed on a scale and purchased from the public by the pound in accordance with the State and County Weights and Measures regulations.
• Storage of recycled materials within two roll-off material containers (approximately 8 feet wide, 18 feet long, and 9 feet high).
• Shipping of collected materials during operating hours to a processing facility as needed.
At least one (1) employee will be on-site at all times during the hours of operation, and the owner will additionally be on-site for at least the first 90 days of operation to supervise the recycling facility.
The containers will be collected as they are filled up with recyclables. Two (2) days before containers are estimated to be full, a pick-up will be scheduled for the full containers and replaced with empty containers. Exhibit D demonstrates the truck movements to pick up and drop off containers.
Entitlement Requirements
Per Table 5-1 (Permitted Uses) of the Foothill Central Specific Plan, the establishment of a small recycling collection facility requires submittal and Planning Commission approval of a Conditional Development Permit. The applicant complied with this requirement and filed a Conditional Development Permit (CDP No. 2025-0006) application on February 27, 2025. This project also required the filing of a Precise Plan of Design (PPD No. 2025-0011) and an Environmental Assessment Review (EAR No. 2025-0008).
Parking
The use of five parking spaces for the kiosk and bins will not affect the shopping center’s minimum parking requirement. The existing shopping center has 221 parking spaces. This quantity exceeds the minimum parking requirement (138 spaces) as shown in the parking calculation chart below and as required by Chapter 18.58.050.B (Off-Street Parking) of the Rialto Municipal Code:
|
Type of Use |
Floor Area (square feet) |
Parking Ratio |
Number of spaces required |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Commercial Ground floor Above ground floor |
34,521 0 |
1 / 250 1 / 300 |
138 0 |
|
Total Required/Total Provided |
|
|
138/221 |
Land Use Compatibility
The project is consistent with Chapter 18.108 (Regulation of Recycling Facilities) of the Rialto Municipal Code, the Foothill Central Specific Plan, and the Foothill Mixed Use Zone. The project site currently contains retail uses, which are generally compatible with the proposed recycling bin. Furthermore, the proposed small collection recycling facility meets or exceeds the required siting criteria of Chapter 18.108 (Regulation of Recycling Facilities), as shown in the table below:
|
Criteria |
Requirement |
Provided |
Meets Code |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Site size |
2-acre min. |
7.49 acre |
Yes |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Facility size |
500 sq.ft. max. |
415 sq.ft. |
Yes |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Distance from residential zone |
50 ft. min. |
68 ft. |
Yes |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Distance from street right-of-way |
50 ft. min. |
76+ ft |
Yes |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Storage screening |
Enclosed building or 6-foot high wall |
Enclosed building |
Yes |
|
|
|
|
|
In addition, the following operational conditions are recommended and included in the Draft Resolution of Approval to ensure the small recycling facility operates in a safe and clean manner:
• The collection of materials shall be limited to glass, aluminum, plastic containers, papers and reusable household items
• The operator shall display a notice stating that after-hours donation of recyclable materials is prohibited.
• The operator shall maintain the facility free of litter and any other undesirable materials and cleaned of loose debris on a daily basis.
• Installation of surveillance and alarm systems required.
• Pursuant to business and profession codes recyclable items brought to the subject location in a shopping cart or laundry cart shall not be accepted.
• The operator shall display a sign for the facility to include the name and phone number of the facility operator and hours of operation.
• The use of power-driven processing equipment outside of the enclosed building is prohibited.
• The operator shall provide a quarterly report to the director of public works identifying the type and amount of materials recycled by the facility during the quarter which will assist the city in determining the amount of solid waste diverted from its waste stream as required by the California Integrated Waste Management Act of 1989 (AB 939).
The recommended conditions of approval were coordinated with and endorsed by Leuitenant Palmer of the Rialto Police Department. With the successful implementation of the recommended conditions of approval, the project is not anticipated to have a negative impact. Rather, the project is anticipated to be a benefit to the community as a convenient recycling service for the surrounding area.
GENERAL PLAN CONSISTENCY:
The project is consistent with the following goals and policies of the Land Use Element and the Economic Development Element of the Rialto General Plan:
Goal 2-34: Achieve waste recycling levels that meet or exceed State mandates. Achieve maximum waste recycling in all sectors of the community: residential, commercial, industrial, institutional, and construction.
Policy 2-34.1: Develop programs that promote reuse and recycling throughout the community.
Policy 2-34.2: Utilize source reduction, recycling, and other appropriate measures to reduce the amount of solid waste generated in Rialto that is disposed of in landfills.
Goal 3-1: Strengthen and diversify the economic base and employment opportunities and maintain a positive business climate.
Policy 3-1.2: Encourage a variety of businesses to locate in Rialto, including retail, high technology, professional services, clean industries, logistics-based businesses, and restaurants/entertainment uses to promote the development of a diversified local economy.
Goal 3-10: Minimize the volume of solid waste that enters local and regional landfills.
Policy 3-10.1: Encourage additional recycling in all sectors of the community.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT:
California Environmental Quality Act
The project is categorically exempt from the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), pursuant to Section 15303 - New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures. The project qualifies as a Class 3 exemption, which allows for exemption of a project consisting of construction of new small structures less than 2,500 square feet in urbanized areas and not involving significant hazardous materials.
PUBLIC NOTICE:
The City published a public hearing notice for this proposed project in the San Bernardino Sun newspaper, mailed public hearing notices to all property owners within 660 feet of the project site, and posted copies of the public hearing notice outside the City Council Chambers.
RECOMMENDATION:
The Planning Division recommends that the Planning Commission:
1. Determine that the project is categorically exempt from the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section 15303, New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures, of the CEQA Guidelines and direct Staff to file the Notice of Exemption with County of San Bernardino; and
2. Adopt the attached Resolution (Exhibit E) to approve Conditional Development Permit No. 2025-0006, to allow the establishment and operation of a small collection recycling facility, based upon the findings and subject to the conditions therein; and
3. Adopt the attached Resolution (Exhibit F) to approve Precise Plan of Design No. 2025-0011, to allow the development of a small collection recycling facility, based upon the findings and subject to the conditions therein.