Council introduces amendment, approves first reading to allow wholesale nursery at 26660 Citrus Avenue

The Loma Linda City Council on the evening of the meeting introduced a development-code amendment and approved related permits to allow a wholesale nursery to operate at 26660 Citrus Avenue.

City planner Gabriel Rivera presented the master development application (No. 20240016), which included a development-code amendment to permit wholesale nurseries in the city’s high-density residential (R‑3) zone in areas within FEMA-designated flood zones; a conditional-use permit (No. 2024‑0003); and a precise plan of design (No. 2024‑0004) to convert an existing residence into a 2,790‑square‑foot office and add parking, landscaping and fencing. Rivera told the council the planning commission unanimously recommended approval on Feb. 19.

Rivera said staff found the proposal qualified for a categorical exemption under the California Environmental Quality Act (Class 32) as infill development and noted the project would restrict public access, limit heavy machinery start times to after 8 a.m., and confine deliveries to late afternoon (3:30–6 p.m.) to reduce potential traffic and noise impacts. The site design includes 35 new parking spaces (including trailer and ADA spaces), perimeter landscaping and a bioswale for stormwater runoff.

Applicant representative David Molinarski described the operation as a wholesale, non‑retail nursery that will house containerized trees and shrubs for commercial clients rather than on‑site retail sales. "It's no retail sale," Molinarski said, describing box trees, shrubs and groundcover held in containers, with robust perimeter screening and drip irrigation planned.

Council members asked about the project's future conversion back to housing and sales‑tax revenue. Rivera and staff said the site's FEMA flood‑hazard designation and existing infrastructure make residential redevelopment difficult, which supported adaptive reuse as a low‑intensity commercial operation. One council member asked whether wholesale activity would generate sales tax; staff answered that some revenue would be created but did not provide a detailed estimate.

Councilmember moved and the item received a second; the clerk recorded that the motion to determine the CEQA exemption, introduce the first reading of Council Bill O‑20‑24‑08 and approve the conditional‑use permit and precise plan carried unanimously.

Next steps include a second reading and adoption, scheduled for May 13, 2025, as part of the ordinance adoption process.