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Riverside delays industrial zoning changes until August for state-law review and return report
Summary
After months of outreach, the City Council directed staff to pause final adoption of proposed industrial zoning amendments (sensitive‑receptor definitions, building‑size caps and expanded notification) and to return with a legislative analysis and recommended ordinance language on August 19, 2025.
The Riverside City Council on May 20 directed staff to pause final action on a package of proposed zoning amendments intended to tighten rules on warehousing and distribution facilities and to return with an updated report and recommended ordinance language at the Aug. 19, 2025 meeting.
Staff had proposed four categories of changes: broaden the definition of “sensitive receptor” to include parks, hospitals and schools (placing more land under closer building‑size tiers); limit maximum building footprints near sensitive receptors (creating a new 400,000‑square‑foot cap between 800–1,500 feet and continuing smaller caps closer in); require landscape buffers and new operational/landscape standards for industrial parcels adjacent to sensitive uses; and expand public‑notification requirements for large logistics projects to a half‑mile radius, including tenant notices and on‑site signage.
The proposal follows state activity on logistics regulation — notably AB 98 — and two bills then pending in 2025 (AB 735 and SB 415) that may further revise state standards. Planning staff recommended pausing adoption until the state legislative picture is clearer so the city can align local rules with any new state requirements. Supporters of the local amendments — neighborhood organizers and environmental justice groups — urged immediate adoption to prevent further large warehouse development near homes; business groups and labor raised concerns that overly broad restrictions could cut off job opportunities and recommended more narrowly targeted standards.
Council consensus was to wait for the outcome of the legislative session and to have staff return with a report by August 19 that spells out how any new state language would affect Riverside and presents draft ordinance text and implementation measures.
Representative quote: “AB 98 is changing and there are two bills in process; staff recommends a wait‑and‑see approach to ensure alignment,” Planning staff said. Community advocates urged faster action; business groups asked for additional econom ic impact analysis.
Next steps: staff will monitor pending legislation, prepare an analysis of how state changes would affect the proposed city ordinance, and return to council at the Aug. 19 meeting with refined language and recommended next steps.
