HomeMy WebLinkAboutReso PC 25-022 RESOLUTION NO. 2025-022
A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF
THE CITY OF RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CALIFORNIA,
RECOMMENDING THAT THE CITY COUNCIL (1) ADOPT
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 16.36.09 OF, AND
ADDING CHAPTER 17.84 TO, THE RANCHO
CUCAMONGA MUNICIPAL CODE CONCERNING
UNDERGROUNDING OVERHEAD UTILITIES AND (2) FIND
THAT THE ORDINANCE IS EXEMPT FROM THE
CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT
A. Recitals.
1. The City of Rancho Cucamonga has prepared a set of amendments, as
described in the title of this Resolution, to the City's Subdivision Ordinance (Title 16 of the
Rancho Cucamonga Municipal Code) and Development Code (Title 17 of the Rancho
Cucamonga Municipal Code). Hereinafter in this Resolution, the subject Municipal Code
amendments are collectively referred to as the "Amendments."
2. Rancho Cucamonga Municipal Code Section 17.22.040.B.2 requires the
Planning Commission to hold a hearing and provide a recommendation to the City Council
on proposed Development Code Amendments.
3. On July 23, 2025, the Planning Commission of the City of Rancho
Cucamonga conducted a noticed public hearing on the Amendments and concluded said
hearing on that date.
4. All legal prerequisites prior to the adoption of this Resolution have occurred.
B. Resolution.
NOW, THEREFORE, it is hereby found, determined, and resolved by the Planning
Commission of the City of Rancho Cucamonga as follows:
1. This Planning Commission hereby finds that all of the facts set forth in the
Recitals, Part A of this Resolution, are true and correct.
2. Based upon the substantial evidence presented to the Planning
Commission during the above-referenced public hearing on July 23, 2025, including
written and oral staff reports, together with public testimony, this Planning Commission
hereby finds as follows:
a. The Articles/Chapters/Sections of the Municipal Code subject to the
Amendments are as follows:
1
(1) Section 16.36.09 ("Required improvements; utilities") to
amend Section 16.36.09 to require all new and existing overhead utility lines to comply
with the requirements of Chapter 17.84 of the Rancho Cucamonga Municipal Code;
(2) Chapter 17.84 ("Underground Utilities') to add Sections
17.84.010 through 17.84.080 to codify requirements for, and processes related to,
undergrounding overhead utilities.
b. The City prepared the Amendments, which are included in Exhibit
"A," to this Resolution and are hereby incorporated by this reference as set forth in full.
C. The Amendments conform to and do not conflict with the goals,
policies, and implementation programs of the General Plan, including, without limitation,
Goal S-5.6 which provides: "Underground Utilities. Promote under-grounding of utilities
for new development, major remodels, and redevelopment."
d. The Amendments have been reviewed pursuant to the California
Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA') (Pub. Resources Code, § 21000 et seq.) and the
City's local CEQA Guidelines, and are exempt from CEQA.
(1) Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Sections 15060(c)(2) and
15378(a), the proposed Amendments are not considered a "Project" under CEQA
because it does not have the potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in
the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the
environment. This is due to the fact that the Amendments not change any practice or
procedure, but rather clarify and codify existing practice. Furthermore, the proposed
Amendments are exempt from the CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section
15061(b)(3), the general rule that CEQA applies only to projects which have the potential
for causing a significant effect on the environment because most new development in the
City is required to underground utilities along their frontage and this does not change that
requirement. Furthermore, the Amendments are categorically exempt from CEQA
pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15302(c) which exempts from review the
replacement or reconstruction of existing utility systems and/or facilities involving a
negligible or no expansion of capacity. For existing utility systems that are required to be
placed underground, there will be a negligible or no expansion of capacity. Additionally,
the Amendments are categorically exempt pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section
15302(d) which exempts from review the replacement or reconstruction of existing
structures and facilities where the new structure will be located on the same site as the
structure replaced and will have substantially the same purpose and capacity replaced
including conversion of overhead electric utility distribution facilities to underground
including connection to existing overhead electric utility distribution lines where the
surface is restored to the condition existing prior to the undergrounding. For any new
development where the undergrounding of utilities is required, the adoption of this
Amendments are categorically exempt pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15303(d)
which exempts from review the construction of and location of new small facilities and
2
structures including water main, sewage, electrical, gas, and other utility extensions
including street improvements, of reasonable length to serve such construction.
(2) The Planning Commission has reviewed the proposed
Amendments, along with the CEQA exemption analysis in subparagraph 1 of paragraph
d above, and, hereby recommends that the City Council finds the Amendments exempt
from CEQA.
3. Based upon the findings and conclusions set forth in subparagraphs 1 and
2 of paragraph B above, the Planning Commission hereby recommends that the City
Council adopt an ordinance as indicated in Exhibit "A", and incorporated herein by this
reference.
4. The Secretary of the Planning Commission shall certify to the adoption of
this Resolution.
APPROVED AND ADOPTED THIS 23rd DAY OF JULY, 2025.
PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF RANCHO CUCAMONGA
BY:
Tony Morales, Chairman
ATTEST: �—
nni U
Nakamura, Secretary
I, Jennifer Nakamura, Secretary of the Planning Commission for the City of Rancho
Cucamonga, do hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution was duly and regularly
introduced, passed, and adopted by the Planning Commission of the City of Rancho
Cucamonga, at an adjourned regular meeting of the Planning Commission held on the
23rd day of July, 2025, by the following vote-to-wit:
AYES: COMMISSIONERS: MORALES, BOLING, DOPP
NOES: COMMISSIONERS:
ABSENT: COMMISSIONERS: DANIELS, DIAZ
ABSTAIN: COMMISSIONERS:
3