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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-10-08 - Minutes - HPC-PCHPC/PC Final Minutes Page 1 of 6 Historic Preservation Commission and Planning Commission Agenda October 8, 2025 Final Minutes Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730 7:00 p.m. The regular joint meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission and Planning Commission was held on October 8, 2025. The meeting was called to order by Chairman Morales at 7:00 p.m. A. Roll Call Planning Commission present: Chairman Morales, Vice Chairman Boling, Commissioner Dopp, Commissioner Daniels and Commissioner Diaz. Staff Present: Serita Young, Assistant City Attorney; Sean McPherson, Principal Planner; Miguel Sotomayor, Principal Engineer; Caleb Richards, Senior Landscape Planner; Elizabeth Thornhill, Executive Assistant. B. Public Communications Chairman Morales opened the public communications. Hearing no comments from the public, Chairman Morales closed the public communications. C. Consent Calendar C1. Consideration to adopt Regular Meeting Minutes of September 24, 2025. Motion: Moved by Vice Chairman Boling; seconded by Commissioner Daniels. Motion carried unanimously, 5-0. D. Public Hearings D1. HILLSIDE DEVELOPMENT REVIEW – NABEEL SALHAB – A request to construct an approximately 6,201 square-foot, two-story single-family residence with a 1,108 square-foot attached garage on a 22,888 square-foot undeveloped lot within the Very Low (VL) Residential Zone with Hillside and Equestrian Overlays located at 10842 Carriage Drive - APN: 1074-531-14. This item is exempt from the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) under State CEQA Guidelines Section 15303 – New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures (DRC2025-00106). Senior Landscape Planner Richards provided a PowerPoint presentation (copy on file). Chairman Morales opened the public hearing. Mr. Yousef, representing the applicant, was present and available to answer questions. Hearing no comments from the public, Chairman Morales closed public hearing. Commissioner Dopp indicated he had no issues with the project. It meets parameters. HPC/PC Final Minutes Page 2 of 6 Commissioner Daniels stated that the project is compatible with the surrounding homes and meets all the code requirements. Commissioner Diaz commented that it is a large, beautiful home and expressed excitement about a new family moving in. Vice Chairman Boling thanked the applicant for a well-thought-out design, noting that it complements the neighborhood. He said the project complies with existing development code standards and addresses the city’s need to provide a range of housing types. Chairman Morales thanked the developer for collaborating with staff to create a project that fits well within the neighborhood. Motion: Moved by Commissioner Diaz; seconded by Commissioner Dopp to adopt Resolution 2025-031 approving Hillside Development Review DRC2025-00106. Motion carried unanimously, 5-0. D2. LONE OAK-RANCHO, LLC - Recommendation to the City Council for a request to redevelop and expand an existing beverage distribution facility over two phases to include production, bottling and distribution operations and other site improvements, including a parking garage and new water well, on approximately 30.1 acres of land generally bounded by Haven Avenue to the west, 7th Street to the North, Utica Avenue to the east, and 6th Street to the south within the Mixed Employment 2 (ME2) Zone. APN: 0209-411-002. -003, -004, -023, -024, -032, -034, -035. An Environmental Impact Report has been prepared for this project (SCH2023080369). (Related Records: a Design Review (DRC2023-00067), Master Plan (DRC2023-00072), Vesting Tentative Parcel Map (SUBTPM20713), Conditional Use Permit (DRC2023-00068) and Tree Removal Permit (DRC2023-00070)). Principal Planner McPherson provided a PowerPoint presentation (copy on file). He noted, for context, that the Planning Commission is a recommending body on this item. Following deliberation, the item will move forward to the City Council for final consideration. He noted a typo in the staff report regarding EV stalls, clarifying it should indicate 52 EV stalls and not 25. Additionally, he pointed out an error in the title of the Resolution, stating that the term “Vesting” should be included in reference to the Tentative Parcel Map. Commissioners were provided with a redlined version of the corrected Resolution on the dais for review. He also mentioned that, in reference to Exhibit E, many of the letters were duplicates, and this will be corrected prior to the item being presented to the City Council. Commissioner Dopp inquired about Phase 2, noting that the intended use of the building remains unclear. He asked whether it could potentially return to the Planning Commission as a conditional use item. Principal Planner McPherson responded that Phase 2it may come back to the Planning Commission. Commissioner Dopp asked staff whether any information on truck routes was provided by the developer. Principal Planner McPherson responded that he would defer that question to the developer. Commissioner Daniels asked staff to explain the reason for not wanting the slip lane on Haven Avenue and why it was deemed unnecessary. Principal Planner McPherson answered that slip lanes in general will no longer be required along Haven south of the railroad tracks for any property. Chairman Morales opened the public hearing. Principal Planner McPherson announced that the applicant will be making a supplemental slideshow presentation, which included a fly through video (copies on file). Following the presentation, the applicant was available to answer questions. The following individuals spoke in support of the project: Ben Pratt; Eddie Campos; Cesar Lamas; Robert Hufnagel; Louie Lopez; Jerry Delamose. HPC/PC Final Minutes Page 3 of 6 For the record, the following correspondence expressing support for the project was received after the preparation of the agenda packet. The actual correspondence should be referred to for details: • Rancho Cucamonga Chamber of Commerce • Inland Empire Economic Partnership • Southern California District Council of Laborers • Special Olympics Southern California Additionally, a letter from the Rancho Cucamonga Chamber of Commerce was received at the meeting and filed by the Executive Assistant. Commissioner Dopp asked the applicant about the anticipated truck traffic through the city. Applicant responded that the truck traffic would not change from what it currently is and will primarily use the I-10 and I-15 freeways. Commissioner Daniels expressed he liked the appearance and colors of the building. He asked whether the materials used for the colors would fade over time. Applicant responded that the materials were specifically selected to resist fading over the 30-year lifespan of the panels. Commissioner Daniels asked where they stand with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approval. Applicant replied that they have received full approval from the FAA and have submitted their application to the City of Ontario for their approval as well. Commissioner Diaz inquired about the truck traffic and heard that it may decrease, as certain operations will now be performed on-site that were previously performed off-site. Applicant confirmed that, as part of their production process, some raw materials will now be created on- site, which will reduce the number of supply trucks needed. Commissioner Diaz asked the applicant to explain their interactive tours and what that would look like. Applicant explained that the tour is designed is avoid active operations on the production floor, creating a separate path through the facility. They would like to make it available for visits to both internal and external visitors with approval from local management. The intent is to welcome visitors and share the company’s story with a particular focus on sustainability, which will be integrated throughout the facility. Vice Chairman Boling commented on the City’s ongoing efforts to incorporate active transportation elements into development projects and city infrastructure. He said that a significant investment was made in the cycle track bicycle lane along Sixth Street, and that the slip lane along a portion of Haven Avenue was removed to accommodate an additional bike lane. Given the facility’s location and its proximity to major public transportation infrastructure, including the Brightline and Metrolink stations, he inquired about on-site amenities available to support and encourage employees to commute by bicycle. Specifically, he asked whether the facility would provide secure bike lockers and/or bike racks. Applicant confirmed that the facility will have a secured parking structure that will allow access to bikes, as well as charging stations for electric vehicles. Principal Planner McPherson added that there are 44 bike stalls located within the parking structure. Chairman Morales acknowledged the applicant’s significant investment of $600 million for the development of the state-of-the-art campus and asked how much future capacity growth the facility is designed to accommodate. Applicant responded that while growth is planned on the distribution side, it will not be significant. On the production side, they will start with five production lines but have the capacity to expand to seven production lines, representing a 40% increase. He added that, as with any bottling plant, there will be opportunities HPC/PC Final Minutes Page 4 of 6 for organic growth by improving efficiency on existing lines, providing additional room for expansion as operations progress. Chairman Morales stated that along Sixth Street there are cylinder shaped objects and asked if they have considered placing art on those cylinders. Applicant responded that they have not considered it but if the Commissioners would like them to do so, they will discuss further with staff. Commissioner Daniels asked what their timing is on the project once they get the approvals. Applicants answered that they will start as soon as possible. Chairman Morales mentioned that the lights on the top of the tallest building must be reported to the FAA if they go out. He asked whether the contact number for the FAA will be posted for immediate access. Applicant confirmed that they have a sophisticated emergency response plan in place. Hearing no other comments from the public, Chairman Morales closed public hearing. Commissioner Dopp stated that he has been the most critical on the Commission of warehouse industrial development. He expressed concerns about the frontage on Haven and questioned the ability and direction of both the General Plan and even the Council goals regarding their vision for major corridors. He feels they lose a little bit of that by getting rid of the second office building and it is mostly a warehouse that is fronting Haven. He suggested that the City Council may want to think about the Haven Avenue frontage a little bit further. He also addressed pollution concerns, specifically greenhouse gas emissions, and the high concentration of warehouses in the area. He expressed appreciation for the efforts Coca-Cola and Reyes are making to their facility as environmentally friendly but emphasized that pollution remains a concern for him. He encouraged Reyes to consider expanding their electric vehicle fleet if the opportunity arises. He added that the project, aside from his concerns about the Haven frontage, is appropriate and beneficial for the community. He said regarding potential murals and as a member of the Public Art Committee, the other committee members tend to be very cautious and wary about these bigger projects that come up and that their complaint is that they do not have a lot of input. He recommended as part of any mural to think about the city at large, maybe good sources of inspiration from the city’s heritage. He commended the office space and the features that give it a “headquarters” feel, which aligns with the City’s vision. He expressed appreciation for the design, beside the Haven frontage, the landscaped urban parklets and the green space planned for the site, and the use of color throughout the property. Commissioner Daniels commended the development, highlighting the many aspects involved and the various permits required. He expressed that it is a very good project that will benefit the community and the area. He appreciated hearing that the project will move forward promptly. He also thanked those who attended the meeting and shared their perspectives. Commissioner Diaz concurred with the other commissioners, stating that it is a fantastic project for the community. She acknowledged concerns regarding the Haven frontage, viewing it as a negative aspect, and hopes efforts will be made to enhance its aesthetic appeal for those traveling along Haven. She commended the thoughtful consideration given to both the community and employees, describing it as impressive. She expressed enthusiasm about Coca-Cola remaining and growing in the city and thanked the audience members who highlighted the importance of the project, and the collaborative efforts involved. HPC/PC Final Minutes Page 5 of 6 Vice Chairman Boling stated that this is one of the largest projects of this type that has come before the city in quite some time. He said as it pertains to the EIR, he wanted to make it clear what the Planning Commission’s role is to ensure the EIR was conducted at the appropriate level and then submitted to the City Council, as the Commissioners are just the recommending body. He expressed appreciation that the applicant has electric trucks in their fleet, the project has a number of onsite infrastructure investments for environmental facilities of various types and that the air pollution issues that may be called out in an EIR of this type are more of a regional issue. He said as it pertains to the project overall, the applicant’s business has been a long-term member of this community and continues to make a significant investment in the city and the region. The business is a major employer bringing in a high-level of employment to the area, offering competitive jobs to Rancho residents as well as others in the Inland Empire and beyond. He said we cannot lose sight as to why a city exists, it is to maintain and grow the economic value of a community, and how we do it is to provide a high level of municipal services. Having this business continue to invest and expand in our city translates to the city’s success. He believed it was a thoughtful design and met the vision for the future, not only for its operational use but also for the employees that work there. In regard to Public Art, he said that with the magnitude of the possible investment, it is a major opportunity to create a keystone component not only for Reyes but for the city and the region’s tourism and marketing plan. He asks that the same level of care and detail that they placed on getting the building and site layout done, be devoted for the selection and installation of the Public Art. Chairman Morales expressed his appreciation to the developer for the state-of-the-art world class campus. He thanked the applicant for their investment in the community, and for their two-years of work to get this going. He thanked them for designing the campus with their employees in mind. He also thanked the attendees for their helpful comments tonight and for participating in this important project for our city. Commissioner Dopp mentioned that the Economic Development Department has emphasized the importance of attracting key industries to the city to create a diversified economy and provide higher-level jobs, reducing reliance on warehouses. He highlighted that food and beverage manufacturing is one of these important industries and commended the applicant for contributing to this goal. Motion: Moved by Vice Chairman Boling; seconded by Commissioner Diaz to adopt Resolution 2025-032 as amended recommending that the City Council approve Design Review DRC2023-00067, Master Plan DRC2023-00072, Vesting Tentative Parcel Map SUBPTM20713, Conditional Use Permit DRC2023-00068 and Tree Removal Permit DRC2023-00070. Motion carried unanimously, 5-0. E. Director Announcements Principal Planner McPherson announced that last week the Planning Department was recognized at a statewide-level and received the California American Planning Association (APA) award of merit for Planning Agency. He also mentioned that in a few weeks, we have a full agenda with six or seven items. F. Commission Announcements Vice Chairman Boling mentioned that last week he attended the APA Conference, participated in numerous sessions and received annual legal updates. Most importantly was a recognition of the City’s Planning Agency with the award of merit recognizing the professionalism, teamwork and diligence that shows in the projects that come forward for the Commission to consider. He also mentioned that a number of laws have been proposed and adopted by the state to help address the perceived housing crisis and yet at the conference it was pointed out by Deputy City Manager Matt Burris that depending upon how you count what is in the pipeline, the City of Rancho Cucamonga has somewhere in the neighborhood of 8,400 to over 10,000 housing units that have been approved over the last few years, and yet when we look at housing construction , it is lacking. HPC/PC Final Minutes Page 6 of 6 He said there is a recent article out of a San Francisco publication that building permits in California, there was on average 250 building permits per 100,000 residents in 2023. He said if you look at what the City of Rancho Cucamonga is trying to push through, we are well ahead of that. By comparison nationwide that number is in the 400s, that is almost 500 building permits issued per 100,000 residents nationwide. Even after the state has adopted and pushed onto the cities so many pieces of legislation that sometimes tie their hands, as far as quality of product, they are still behind the national average, so something is broken, and that message came out numerous times at the conference. Commissioner Daniels asked staff if anything ever happened with the Commissioners letter that was going to the City Council. Principal Planner McPherson answered that it is still being discussed internally with staff and will get back to the Commission as soon as they get further clarification. G.Adjournment Motion: Moved by Commissioner Diaz, seconded by Commissioner Dopp to adjourn the meeting. Hearing no objections, Chairman Morales adjourned the meeting at 8:31 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Elizabeth Thornhill, Executive Assistant Planning Department Approved: HPC/PC October 22, 2025 Meeting.