fontana north walmart project nop

City of Fontana Notice of Preparation and Notice of Public Scoping Meeting

Fontana North Walmart Project

Date: Monday, February 22, 2016

To: Public Agencies and Interested Parties

From: Orlando Hernandez, Senior Planner, City of Fontana

Subject: Notice of Preparation of an Environmental Impact Report and Public Scoping Meeting

The City of Fontana 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 City of Fontana 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 City of Fontana 8533 Sierra Avenue Fontana, CA 92335 Phone: (909) 350‐6602 Fax: (909) 350‐6588 Email: [email protected]

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 City of Fontana Notice of Preparation

FirstCarbon Solutions 2 S:\01440047 Fontana North Walmart\NOP\Fontana North Walmart Project NOP.docx

FONTANA NORTH WALMART PROJECT

Project Location

The project site is located in the City of Fontana, 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 City of Fontana 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.



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


3,500 square feet


2,900 square feet

Outparcel 7 1.27 Gas Station with Convenience Market—six pumps (12 fueling positions); 4,080 square feet

Six pumps (12 fueling positions); 4,080 square feet

Total 27.41 234,959 square feet; six pumps (12 fueling positions) 244,000 square feet; six pumps (12 fueling positions)

Source: Nasland Engineering, 2015.

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 sit‐

down 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‐



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.



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 City of Fontana:

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 Hydrology and Water Quality

Air Quality/Greenhouse Gas Emissions Land Use Biological Resources Noise Cultural Resources Public Services and Utilities Geology, Soils, and Seismicity Transportation Hazards and Hazardous Materials 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.



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 City of Fontana 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.

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Project Site

So urce: Census 2000 Data, The CaSIL, FCS GIS 2013.

ICITY OF FONTANA • FONTANA NORTH WALMART PROJECT

NOTICE OF PREPARATION01440047 • 12/2015 | 1_ regio nal.mxd

Project Site

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Exhibit 2Lo cal Vicinity Map

Aerial Base

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Exhibit 3Conceptual Site Plan

CITY OF FONTANA • FONTANA NORTH WALMART PROJECTNOTICE OF PREPARATION

Source: Nasland, 2015

fontana north walmart project nop

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