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Fontana council approves broad zoning changes, forms Southridge community facilities district and introduces fireworks-host ordinance
Summary
The Fontana City Council voted to adopt municipal code amendments to zoning and design standards (Ord. No. 1985), approved formation of Community Facilities District No. 117 (Southridge) with related resolutions and introduced an ordinance to hold social hosts responsible for illegal fireworks (Ord. No. 1987).
The Fontana City Council on a unanimous voice vote moved forward on several major actions affecting zoning, development financing and public-safety enforcement.
Councilmembers voted to introduce and approve Ordinance No. 1985, a package of amendments to Chapter 30 of the Fontana Municipal Code that, among other changes, adds definitions for "acute care" and "urgent care," permits urgent-care facilities in C‑1 and C‑2 commercial zones, adjusts frontage coverage and setback standards in the form‑based code (including Route 66 subdistrict adjustments), allows limited use of spandrel (darkened) glass toward glazing requirements and adds landscape standards for parking areas. Associate Planner Cessly Gones said staff recommended the council find the proposal categorically exempt from CEQA and adopt the ordinance; the council recorded a voice tally of "3 in favor." "Staff is requesting to allow urgent cares in the C1 and C2 zones," Gones said during her presentation.
The council also completed the procedural steps to form Community Facilities District No. 117 (Southridge). Staff described the district as covering roughly 32 acres with 225 residential lots on the east side of Live Oak Avenue and south of Village Drive and explained the rates-and-methods framework that would levy special taxes on properties within the district to fund infrastructure and ongoing maintenance. Staff said initial annual rates per home were estimated between $4,187 and $4,794 (with a portion for ongoing maintenance and the remainder intended for bond debt service) and estimated annual maintenance revenue of about $243,000. The staff report stated bonds would not be issued until a significant portion of development occurs; the council voted to adopt resolutions forming the district, deeming it necessary to incur bonded indebtedness, calling a special election and then directing final special‑tax and lien actions. The hearing record includes both a staff-reported planned bond amount and comments from public speakers expressing concern about debt burdens for future homeowners.
On public-safety policy, the council introduced Ordinance No. 1987, which would create a municipal social‑host provision targeting illegal fireworks at private or permitted gatherings. Deputy City Manager Ray Ebert told the council the ordinance would define a social host and authorize fines of $1,000 per illegal firework (up to $10,000) to recover the city's response costs, with any revenue beyond city costs directed to the State Fire Marshal's fireworks interdiction team. Councilmembers asked about year‑round enforcement, tenant versus owner liability, evidentiary requirements and outreach; staff said enforcement generally will require photographic or video evidence linking an illegal discharge to a host and that tenants may be held responsible where lease data exists. The council voted to introduce and waive further reading of Ordinance No. 1987.
The meeting also approved the consent calendar (including an amendment to an architecture services agreement tied to the Regional Navigation Center project) and received staff updates about parks investments.
What happens next: Ordinances introduced (1985 and 1987) proceed through the city's formal ordinance process as required by notice and reading rules; CFD formation steps include ministerial recording of election results and related implementing agreements.
