Ontario council approves plan that enables large Eucalyptus business park after heated public hearing

The Ontario City Council on a 5-0 vote approved a package of land-use changes that staff said will add housing capacity and clear the way for the Eucalyptus Business Park, despite lengthy public opposition and warnings of environmental and procedural harms.

City staff framed the measures as an update to the Ontario Plan 2050 to align land-use designations with market conditions and state law. Rudy Zeladon, the city’s community development lead, told the council the amendment affects roughly 1,300 acres, would increase residential capacity by about 7,000 units and population by roughly 16,000, and add about 4,000,000 square feet of nonresidential space and 2,000 jobs. Staff recommended the council certify a supplemental environmental impact report, adopt CEQA findings and a mitigation and monitoring program, adopt a Statement of Overriding Considerations, approve the policy plan amendment and introduce an ordinance to amend the zoning map for first reading.

“Through community outreach, residents expressed concerns with existing truck routes,” Zeladon said during his presentation and described refinements that would remove Archibald Avenue as a truck route in portions of the city and reassign some routes to better serve industrial areas.

Residents, environmental justice groups and local farmers urged the council to delay or reject the amendment and the Eucalyptus Business Park specific plan. “If the damage to our community is unavoidable, why is this the right project?” Alec Aragon asked, urging the council to protect agricultural land and housing sites. Ana Gonzalez of the Center for Community Action and Environmental Justice criticized the size of the proposed nonresidential buildout and said the SEIR identified significant and unavoidable impacts to air quality, greenhouse gases, noise and transportation.

Public Storage’s counsel, Francis Park, told the council the EIR contained technical deficiencies and said his client had not been properly noticed; he warned litigation would follow if the council proceeded without addressing those issues. Brian Ullrich of Public Storage said the company had spent millions pursuing approvals and asked for more time to engage with staff.

Speakers also raised procedural and access complaints, including alleged Brown Act and language-access shortcomings in outreach. Several Spanish‑language speakers requested clearer translated materials and two-way interpretation to allow meaningful participation.

Councilmembers acknowledged the breadth of public concern but said they were balancing multiple objectives including housing, jobs and state mandates. Councilmembers moved, seconded and amended the approval to include direction that staff meet with affected property owners and continue outreach prior to second reading. The council then took an electronic vote, which passed 5-0 for both the Ontario Plan amendment and the Eucalyptus Business Park specific plan.

City staff and the city attorney repeatedly said the city had complied with the legal notice and state‑mandated review periods and that the proposed truck‑route refinements and mitigation measures were intended to reduce exposure to sensitive receptors. The city manager and legal advisers also indicated willingness to meet with objecting property owners before the ordinance’s second reading.

The council approved the required CEQA documents and the policy amendments; staff will return for the ordinance’s second reading and to report on follow-up meetings with stakeholders.

The vote clears the way for subsequent entitlement steps for the Eucalyptus Business Park specific plan; several speakers said they expected litigation or additional challenges, and community groups said they will continue to press for alternatives that prioritize air quality, farmland preservation and community benefits.