For the Planning Commission Meeting of December 6, 2023
TO: Honorable Chairman and Planning Commissioners
APPROVAL: Colby Cataldi, Community Development Director
REVIEWED BY: Paul Gonzales, Community Development Manager
FROM: Daniel Rosas, Senior Planner
Title
Conditional Development Permit No. 2023-0023: A request to allow up to 1,350 square feet of outdoor storage area for coiled steel material at an existing industrial warehouse site located at 469 South Yucca Avenue (APN: 0131-011-38) within the Light Manufacturing (M-1) zone. This project is categorically exempt pursuant to Section 15301 (Existing Facilities) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
Body
APPLICANT:
Dedeaux Properties, LLC., 1430 S. Eastman Avenue, Commerce, CA 90023.
LOCATION:
The project site consists of one (1) parcel of land (APNs: 0131-011-38) located at the northeast corner of Merrill Avenue and Yucca Avenue (Refer to the attached Location Map (Exhibit A)).
BACKGROUND:
Surrounding General Plan Land Use Designations
|
Location |
General Plan Designation |
|
Site |
Light Industrial |
|
North |
Light Industrial |
|
East |
Light Industrial |
|
South |
Residential 6 |
|
West |
Light Industrial |
Surrounding Zoning Designations
|
Location |
Zoning |
|
Site |
Light Industrial (M-1) |
|
North |
Light Industrial (M-1) |
|
East |
Light Industrial (M-1) |
|
South |
Single-Family Residential (R-1C) |
|
West |
Light Industrial (M-1) |
Site Characteristics and Previous Approval
Located at the site is an existing warehouse approved and developed under Precise Plan of Design No. 2020-0004. The project site consists of an existing 36,500 square foot industrial building on 3.45-acres. The project site is bound on the south by Merrill Avenue and on the west by Yucca Avenue.
Surrounding Area
To the north of the project site is an existing 57,000 square foot industrial building, to the east is a San Bernardino County Flood Control Channel and a 258,857 square foot industrial warehouse building. To the south is a single-family residential subdivision built in 1981 and to the west are four (4) small industrial buildings ranging in size from 6,000 square feet to 12,000 square feet.
ANALYSIS/DISCUSSION:
The applicant, Dedeaux Properties, LLC, is requesting to use up to 1,350 square feet of area within the truck court of an existing industrial warehouse site located at 469 S. Yucca Avenue for the outdoor storage area of steel materials.
Design
Per the submitted site plan (Exhibit B), the applicant has requested to construct two (2) covered structures totaling 1,350 square feet for the storage of coiled steel material area located on the east side of the existing industrial warehouse building. Each proposed structure is approximately 11 feet wide by 61 feet long and will be in place of existing truck dock loading space. Parking, landscaping, and vehicular circulation that are required for the existing development will not be reduced as a result of the project.
The floor plan (Exhibit C) indicates walls will be constructed on three (3) sides of the structures to protect the material storage from exposure to the natural elements. The proposed structures do not exceed a height of 14 feet and will therefore be screened from public view by a combination of the existing building and existing 14-foot-high screen wall. The exterior of the proposed structures will be required to match the paint scheme of the adjacent industrial building.
Land Use Compatibility
The project is consistent with the Light Industrial (M-1) zone and the industrial uses to the north, east, and west of the project site. The nearest sensitive uses are the single-family residences located to the south of the project site, across Merrill Avenue. The development and operation of proposed storage will not significantly impact the residents to the south since measures, such as the installation of solid screen walls and landscape buffering address both noise and visual impacts to acceptable levels. The project will be a benefit to the community and an improvement to the surrounding area.
GENERAL PLAN CONSISTENCY:
The General Plan land use designation of the site is Light Industrial. According to Chapter 2 (Managing Our Land Supply) of the Rialto General Plan, industrial storage uses, such as the project, are consistent with the Light Industrial designation. Furthermore, the project is consistent with the following goals of the Land Use Element and Economic Development Element of the Rialto General Plan:
Goal 2-22: Promote commercial and/or industrial development that is well designed, people-oriented, environmentally sustainable, sensitive to the needs of the visitor or resident, and functionally efficient for its purpose.
Goal 3-1: Strengthen and diversify the economic base and employment opportunities, and maintain a positive business climate.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT:
The project is categorically exempt from the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The project qualifies as a Class 3 exemption under CEQA Guidelines Section 15332 - New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures - as the project consists of relatively small accessory structures involving negligible or no expansion.
PUBLIC NOTICE:
The City published a public hearing notice for proposed project in the San Bernardino Sun newspaper and mailed public hearing notices to all property owners within 660 feet of the project site, as required by State law.
RECOMMENDATION:
The Planning Division recommends that the Planning Commission:
1. Determine that the project is Categorically Exempt per Section 15532 (infill development project) according to the California Environmental Quality Act and authorize staff to file a Notice of Exemption with the Clerk of the Board of San Bernardino County; and;
2. Adopt the attached Resolution (Exhibit D) to approve Conditional Development Permit No. 2023-0023 to allow a total 1,350 square feet of outdoor storage of coiled steel material in conjunction with the existing industrial operation located at 469 South Yucca Avenue (APNs: 0131-011-38), subject to the findings and conditions therein.