Commission backs municipal code changes to encourage downtown dining and reduce on-site parking requirements

The Fontana Planning Commission on April 21 voted to recommend municipal code amendments intended to spur downtown activity by easing certain development standards and clarifying permitting processes.

Associate Planner Cicely Session Goins presented multiple amendments: increase the minimum pedestrian path width for outdoor dining from 4 feet to 5 feet and update design standards; clarify planning and encroachment-permit requirements for outdoor dining in the public right-of-way; eliminate on-site parking requirements for retail, entertainment and restaurant uses that are within 400 feet of city-owned public parking facilities so those uses may rely on nearby municipal parking; and add definitions distinguishing 'vehicle parking' (short-term/day use) from 'vehicle storage' (overnight/storage use).

Staff also proposed adjustments to the city's no-net-loss program to reduce administrative agreement requirements, allow more flexible use of banked residential units, adjust minimum site sizes and allowable zones where banked units can be applied, and allow proportional reductions of development standards to incentivize use of banked units. Cicely told commissioners these changes aim to make it physically possible for units to be used in future projects and to encourage downtown development.

Commissioners asked whether removing on-site parking requirements means losing parking; staff clarified businesses would still have access to city-owned parking within 400 feet and that the change is intended to encourage downtown visitation and improve development potential. After discussion, Commissioner Kietle moved to approve Master Case 20611 (the municipal code amendment package) and the motion passed by voice vote.