1 City of Fontana
General Plan Annual Progress Report
January 2024—December 2024
2 CITY OF FONTANA
2024 GENERAL PLAN ANNUAL
PROGRESS REPORT
Prepared by the
Planning Department
Vision Statement
Fontana is a dynamic, thriving community that supports education, growth, safety and a positive community fabric. Our community is creating the opportunities that courage social and economic investment.
3 PAGE
Table of Contents - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 3 Introduction - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 4 Background - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -5
DEVELOPMENT SERVICES ORGANIZATION/PLANNING ACTIVITIES
General Plan Background- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -6 Planning Department - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 7-8 Building and Safety Department - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 9-10 Housing Element Reporting Requirements - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - 11-12 Capital Improvement Project (CIP) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -13-14 General Plan Implementation Status- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -15 Chapter No. 5 – Housing Element - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -16 Chapter No. 7 – Conservation, Open Space and Trails - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 17 Chapter No. 8 – Community Mobility and Circulation - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 18 Chapter No. 15 – Land Use Zoning and Urban Design - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 19 TABLE OF CONTENTS
4 INTRODUCTION
Purpose of this Document
Section 65400 (b) of the State of California government Code requires planning agencies provide an annual report to their legislative body, the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research (OPR), and the State Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) of the status of the General Plan and progress in its implementation. The four basic purposes of the annual report are as follows:
· To provide information to assess progress on implementation of the General Plan in accordance with the stated goals, polices and implementation measures.
· Provide information to identify necessary course adjustments or modifications to the General Plan as a means to improve implementation.
· To provide a clear correlation between land use decisions made during the reporting period, and the goals, policies and implementation measures in the General Plan. · To provide information regarding local agency progress in meeting its share of regional housing needs and local efforts to remove governmental constraints to the development of housing.
The General Plan Annual Progress Report summarizes the City of Fontana’s progress towards implementing the goals, policies and programs of the 2015-2035 City’s General Plan. It covers the period of January 1, 2024, through December 31, 2024. The report provides for the annual review of the General plan to assess the level of implementation and effectiveness of the General Plan as a guide for orderly growth and development. The General Plan Progress Report also provides information regarding the City’s progress in meeting its share of regional housing needs.
5 BACKGROUND
The City of Fontana was incorporated on June 25, 1952. Fontana is a general-law city governed by codes adopted by the legislators of the State of California. The City of Fontana is governed by an elected Mayor and four District Council Members. Located in the Inland Empire, Fontana is situated 110 miles north of San Diego, 50 miles east of Los Angeles, 50 miles northeast of the heart of Orange County and 15 miles west of the City of San Bernardino.
The Fontana planning area encompasses approximately 52.4 square miles (43.1 square miles-city limits/9.3 square miles-sphere of influence area). Since the last comprehensive update to the General Plan in 2018, the population of the City has increased from 209,895 (source: General Plan Chapter 2 and 2020 US Census—Quick facts) to 215,465.
The City of Fontana has extensively used the specific plan process for large tracts of undeveloped land in its planning area. Currently, the City of Fontana has adopted twenty-seven (27) specific plans and community plans. The specific plans and community plans within the city limits encompass almost 12,000 acres, representing over 26,000 dwelling units, 700 acres of commercial development, and 2,700 acres of industrial property.
6 GENERAL PLAN
BACKGROUND
The General Plan is mandated by California
Government Code Section 65300, which
requires each city and county to adopt a
comprehensive plan for the physical
development of the jurisdiction. It addresses
land use, transportation routes, population
growth, open space, air and water quality,
noise, safety issues and other related physical,
social and economic development factors.
Through the identification of goals, objectives,
and policies, a General Plan creates a strategy
framework for implementation. In addition to
serving as a basis for local decision making, the
General Plan establishes a clear set of
development rules for citizens, developers,
decision-makers, neighboring cities and
counties, and provides the community with an
opportunity to participate in the planning and
decision-making process.
In November of 2018, the City adopted a
comprehensive update to the General Plan that
contains a shared vision for the future
community of Fontana, a plan outlining
strategies on how to pursue and achieve that
vision, and an action plan that assists in
advancing the goals, policies, and
implementation measures outlined in the
general plan.
AMENDMENTS TO THE GENERAL PLAN
State law allows the city to amend its General
Plan no more than four times per year.
Amendments may be proposed and acted
upon at any time during the year and one
action may include multiple amendments. Any
changes to the General Plan require a public
hearing by the City Council and evaluation of
the environmental impacts as required by the
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
In 2024, the City amended the General Plan two
times to facilitate three development
entitlement applications and a new specific
plan.
7 PLANNING DEPARTMENT
The Planning Department of the Development Services Organization is the initial contact for development through the land entitlement process. From inception to completion, Planning works to ensure the highest standards for the use and design of any project submitted, while meeting the applicant’s needs as well. This section outlines the activities of the Planning Department from January 2024 through December 2024.
The day-to-day planning activities include:
Administering the City’s Zoning Ordinance (Development Code) Answering public inquiries
Processing planning applications for the Planning Commission and City Council Reviewing and approving business license applications for zoning compliance Preparing reports for the Planning Commission and City Council 8 Telephone/Entitlement Activity
Telephone activity represents the number of people
calling for assistance to the Planning Department.
Phone call records are kept and tracked on a
monthly basis. In 2024, the Planning Department
received 6,375 phone calls in total.
The Planning Department now offers government
services through an online permitting resource
known as Build Fontana, which is utilized to
streamline the entitlement process for the applicant
by allowing the submittal of new applications, the
ability to check status of application processing and
the ability to access documents associated with the
application.
Planning Applications
The City of Fontana utilizes a Master Case Number
(MCN) tracking system which is assigned to every
unique formal entitlement request. The Master Case
Number serves as a tracking mechanism for the
number of projects that have been taken in the city.
For example, a proposal for a new shopping
development will be assigned an MCN (“Master
Case Number”) file number. Within the MCN file
number, all required individual entitlement
applications for the project such as Design Review,
Conditional Use Permit requests, Variances, and
Zone Changes, are assigned individual case
numbers that are tied to the MCN number. Based
on the Master Case Number (MCN) tracking system,
a total of 113 planning entitlement projects were
received during this review period. Also, during this
review period a total of 79 planning projects were
approved.
In addition to the applications, planning staff
reviewed business licenses and conducted plan
check review to ensure the proposed business,
improvement and new construction are in
compliance with the zoning code.
9 BUILDING & SAFETY DEPARTMENT
The Building and Safety Department is responsible for a variety of tasks that include issuing building permits, processing plan check submittals, and conducting building inspections. The Building and Safety Department provides professional plan checking, permitting, and inspections that assure adherence and compliance with the 2022 California Building Code. New building construction and tenant improvements require plan check review for zoning and Building Code compliance.
10 Building and Safety
SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENCES
The City issued building permits for 516 new
single-family homes within calendar year 2024
was and 179 for Accessory Dwelling Units
(ADU’s).
MULTI-FAMILY RESIDENCES
The City issued building permits for 284 multifamily units within calendar year 2024.
COMMERCIAL
Commercial development for calendar year
2024 resulted in nine new building permits issued
for 45,703 SF square feet of new commercial
area with an approximate valuation of
$35,755,320.74.
11 HOUSING ELEMENT
12 Housing Element Reporting Requirements
Housing Element law requires quantification of each jurisdiction’s existing and projected housing needs for all income levels. The City’s Department of Housing and Business Development continues to administer the Community Development Block Grant Funds in accordance with U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development requirements. In addition, existing programs in the Zoning and Development Code (i.e. Accessory Dwelling Units) provides the City with the flexibility and standards to encourage future development of low income housing.
The Housing Element is one of the seven State mandated elements included in the City of Fontana’s General Plan. The purpose of the Housing Element is to identify and plan for the City’s existing and projected housing needs; it contains a detailed outline and work program of the City’s goals, policies, quantified objectives, and programs for the preservation, improvement, and development of housing for a sustainable future. On February 8, 2022 the City Council approved Resolution No. 2022-011 for the adoption of a comprehensive update to the Housing Element (6th Cycle Housing Element Update) that will plan for the 2021-2029 planning period.
Each eight-year planning cycle, the City is allocated a specific number of housing units called the Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) determined by the Southern California Association of Governments. The RHNA quantifies current and future housing growth within a City. The Table shows the median income limits established by HUD for the Fontana area with the associated affordable rent and affordable home sales prices for each income category along with number of building permits issued for years 2021 to 2029.
City of Fontana Housing Need by Income Category
Income
Category
Units
Needed
2021-
2029
Units
2021
Units
2022
Units
2023
Units
2024
Units
2025
Units
2026
Units
Built
2027
Units
Built
2028
Remaining
Needed
2021-
2029
Very Low
(0-50%)
<$31,950
5,109 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 5,109
Low
(51-80%)
<$51,100
2,950 60 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2,890
Moderate
(81-120%)
<$73,680
3,035 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3,035
Above Moderate
(>120%)
>$73,680
6,425 1,122 658 803 976 0 0 0 0 3,842
Totals 17,519 1,182 658 803 980 0 0 0 0 14,876
Units
Built
2029
0 0
0 0
0 13
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM
14 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT
PROGRAM (CIP)
The State of California Government Code Section
66002 requires local agencies that have
developed a fee program to adopt a CIP
indicating the approximate location, size, timing
and an estimate of the cost of all facilities or
improvements to be financed by fees. The City of
Fontana has such a fee program and the City’s
adopted seven-year Capital Improvement
Program outlines the infrastructure needs for the
future.
Projects and expenditures identified for future
fiscal years are approved on a planning basis
and do not receive expenditure authority until
they are part of the capital budget for that fiscal
year. The public, City Council, Planning
Commission, Engineering, and Parks and
Recreation Commission review of the overall
seven-year program is performed annually for
effective implementation of the City’s Vision
Statement as well as the City Council’s more
immediate goals and objectives.
The Seven-year Capital Improvement Program for
FYs 2023/2024 through 2029/2030 sets forth
infrastructure needs and a capital plan involving
178 projects totaling approximately $995,192
million. Of this, all projects and expenditures
identified for future fiscal years beyond 2023/2024
are approved on a planning basis and do not
receive expenditure authority until they are part
of the capital budget for that fiscal year. A review
of the seven-year program is performed annually
by the Parks and Community Services
Commission, the Planning Commission and the
City Council in order to ensure effective
The City’s seven-year CIP continues to advance the
“City Council’s Vision” and strive to accomplish the
“City Council’s Goals and Objectives”. This vision
statement and the goals and objectives adopted by
the City Council will guide the development of
policies, goals and objectives adopted in the City’s
General Plan.
FY 23/24 – FY 29/30, 7-Year CIP Project
CIP Category Amount
(Thousands)
No. Of
Projects
Flood Control & Storm $19,824 3
Major Corridor/ $164,047 11
Other Capital Improve- $67,921 11
Public Building Improve- $62,522 10
Resource Mgt/ $823 1
Sewer Improvements $13,333 8
Street Improvements $532,768 77
Technology $36,506 4
Traffic $35,238 43
Totals $995,192 178
Open Space & Recreation $62,210 10
15 GENERAL PLAN
IMPLEMENTATION STATUS
16 Housing Element
The State of California mandates that each county and city maintain a Housing Element in their General Plan. Section 65583 of the Government Code sets forth the specific
components to be contained in a community’s housing
element, including the City’s share of the Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA).
In addition to providing assistance and guidance for the City’s Housing Element, the Housing Department administers a
variety of community development activities including
affordable housing activities and neighborhood improvement programs. Following are programs and activities supporting the goals of the Housing Element:
Updates in 2024:
Density Bonus Regulations
The regulations for density bonuses were expanded in 2024 beyond the requirements stipulated by the State of
California. Per state law, the city is required to provide concessions and incentives when a density bonus is
requested for a development containing affordable
residential units. However, the Zoning and Development
Code was amended to allow concessions and incentives
when affordable housing is being provided, even if a
density bonus is not requested. This furthers the goals of the Housing Element by removing barriers to providing
affordable housing in the city.
Walnut Village Specific Plan
The Walnut Village Specific Plan was rescinded and
readopted in 2024. With the assistance of LEAP grant funds from the California Department of Housing and
Community Development, the city initiated a
comprehensive overhaul of the specific plan, which was
originally adopted in 1980. The new Walnut Village Specific Plan provides additional residential density and
opportunities for mixed-use development in the three
undeveloped/underdeveloped areas of the specific plan,
which furthers the goals of the Housing Element.
Fair Housing Services
The Housing Department contracted with the Inland Fair
Housing & Mediation Board to provide fair housing
services. Discrimination investigation and assistance
services were provided to 457 residents. Landlord-tenant mediation assistance (which includes the discussion of
options, such as conciliation with a landlord, referral to a government enforcement agency, or private attorney)
was provided to 4,335 residents.
17 Conservation, Open Space
and Trails Element
Open space and parks are key aspects to well being for
Fontana residents.
Updates in 2024:
Goal: Fontana has multiuse trails that provide north-south links and connections with the Pacific Electric Trail and other city pedestrian and bicycle routes
Action: Seek funding sources to implement the San
Sevaine Trail, and design and implement an
"Eastside Trail" linking the City from north to south in the eastern part of the city.
Construction of Phase 1 of the San Sevaine Trail began in 2024. The trail will be a 1.25 multi-purpose trail along the Etiwanda Creek/San Sevaine Channel between the Pacific
Electric Trail in the City of Fontana and Banyan Avenue in the City of Rancho Cucamonga.
Goal: All Fontana residents live within walking or biking distance of a public park and there are sufficient public parks to serve all areas of the city.
Action: Pursue park development where
parkland is insufficient.
In May 2024, two new dog parks received approved
entitlements. The Southridge East dog park is to be located on the east side of Citrus Avenue, south of Windcrest Drive.
The Southridge West dog park is to be located between
Live Oak Avenue and Village Drive, south of Camellia Drive.
Each park is one acre in size and will feature large and small breed dog sections with parking, fencing, drinking fountains and park benches. The sites are located in the existing Southern California Edison easement. Single-family residential neighborhoods are located to the north and
south of each site so residents will be provided a nearby recreational amenity to use.
Additionally, ten parks received new playgrounds, shade structures and/or backstops in 2024. The playgrounds
provided improved accessibility for persons with disabilities, thereby increasing the usefulness of the parks by the
community at large.
18 Community Mobility and
Circulation Element
This element of the General Plan focuses on
transportation policies.
Updates in 2024:
Goal: The city has attractive and convenient parking
facilities, including electric charging stations, for both motorized and non-motorized vehicles that meet need that fit the context.
Action: Provide sufficient motor vehicle and
secure bicycle parking in commercial and
employment centers to support vibrant economic
activity.
The Downtown Parking Structure project began
construction in 2024. The 4.5 tier parking structure is located at 16948 Arrow Boulevard and is part of the civic center campus. The project complements the downtown
revitalization underway and will provide parking for the civic center, Stage Red Theater and other businesses
downtown. Additionally, a second parking structure is in the inception and design phase. It will be located near the northeast corner of Arrow Boulevard and Nuevo Avenue.
Goal: The City of Fontana has a comprehensive and
balanced transportation system, with safety and multimodal accessibility the top priority of citywide transportation planning, as well as accommodating freight movement.
Action: Provide roadways that serve the needs of
Fontana residents and commerce, and that facilitate
safe and convenient access to transit, bicycle
facilities and walkways.
Construction of the widening of Sierra Avenue from Foothill Boulevard to Baseline Avenue was completed in 2024. The project included the widening of the street to six total lanes for vehicles, curb, gutter, raised landscape median, a new traffic signal and approximately 2.2 miles of bike lanes. The provision of bike lanes and sidewalks improves safety for bikers and pedestrians and provides easier access to the many transit routes utilizing Sierra Avenue.
19 Land Use, Zoning, and
Urban Design Element
This element of the General Plan sets forth the policy framework for the physical development of Fontana. It is a guide for the decision-makers that sets the pattern, distribution, density and intensity of land uses that over time will assist the City in achieving the vision of Fontana for the future.
Updates in 2024:
Goal: Fontana development patters support a high quality of life and economic prosperity.
Action: Locate multi-family development in mixeduse centers, preferably where there is nearby access to retail, services and public transportation.
During this review period, construction began on several new multi-family projects along major corridors, such as Sierra Avenue and Foothill Boulevard. For example, a new 88 unit multiple family project (Sierra Townhomes) is being constructed at the northwest corner of Sierra Avenue and Ramona Avenue. Also, construction began on a new 344-
unit mixed-use development on the southwest corner of
Foothill Boulevard and Live Oak Avenue. These
developments (and several others) are in mixed use areas with nearby access to public transportation.
Goal: Downtown is a dynamic center of activity with new housing options, walkable environments, and a mixture of uses attracting residents and visitors.
Action: Transform downtown into a vibrant local and
regional destination.
The revitalization of Downtown Fontana made major strides in 2024. Construction of a new 4.5 tier parking structure commenced, which the project inception and design
phase began for a second parking structure, which will
provide parking for a new mixed-use development that
received approved entitlements in 2024. The development will consist of ground floor retail with pedestrian corridor offices and 20 residential units on upper floors.
Additionally, the completion of the renovation of the Stage Red theater will contribute to the revitalization of the downtown. It is expected to draw traffic to the downtown area for concerts and shows in a more intimate and highend setting.