The Upland Planning Commission delivered a mixed bag of approvals and denials Wednesday night, Feb. 12, for a proposed logistics warehouse supposedly for Amazon, further dividing residents on the project.
In one of the five actions the commission took Wednesday, it approved the environmental review on a 4-1 vote, with Yvette Walker voting “no.” However, they denied the site plan for the project on a 3-2 vote, with Walker, Linden Brouse and Gary Schwary voting with the majority and Robin Aspinall and Carolyn Anderson disagreeing. Approvals were granted for routine zoning and for the development agreement, which includes a cash package from the developer and enforcement rules for limiting truck trips.
The commission along with two members of the Airport Land Use Committee — Ronald Campbell and Howard Bunte — voted unanimously that the 201,096-square-foot warehouse proposed for the corner of Foothill Boulevard and Central Avenue near Cable Airport is a compatible use.
After nearly a year, the votes Wednesday were the first on the controversial project. But they are non-binding recommendations. All except the one about compatibility with the airport must go to the City Council for approval, said Mike Poland, contract planning manager.
That most likely will take place on March 23, Poland said.
Bridge Development Partners wants to build a warehouse for an e-commerce company (identity not revealed but rumored to be Amazon) to receive goods by large trucks and distribute them using smaller vans, a kind of “last mile” terminal operation.
In the development agreement, Bridge has said the number of trucks will be limited to 25 per day — five in the daytime and 20 at night, for a total of 50 truck trips in 24 hours. Trucks that burn diesel fuel produce air particulates, which studies show lodge in the lungs, cause disease and even premature death. Bridge has said there will be no significant air quality impacts.
Schwary said Bridge has to answer several questions and make changes before presenting final reports to the City Council. He wanted to know what kind of trucks would be using the facility.
In one agreement, the city said if the occupant violates the number of trucks it would get a written notice on first offense, then face a $45,000 fine on a second offense. The city will hire a consultant to monitor and count trucks during surprise visits.
“There should be a fine in the first offense, not a shake of the finger,” Schwary said.
But overall, the Planning Commission and airport committee seemed to favor the project. Commissioner Walker was most vocal, stating the project would take 50 acres of empty land often inhabited by homeless encampments and clean it up.
“This is a beautiful project,” she said. “It will be a welcome site to all of our residents.”
However, the 57 people who addressed the commission during a five-hour meeting were divided. Thirty opposed the project or felt the environmental review was lacking; 23 were in favor and four were undecided.
“It is not right for this location. It is not right for the city. And it is not right for the residents,” testified Kris Gooding, a 25-year Upland resident.
Many Upland residents see their city as mostly a bedroom community and don’t want to follow the lead of Chino, Fontana and Eastvale in accepting large logistics warehouses.
“This is Upland. This isn’t Fontana,” said Steve Bierbaum, Upland resident.
Most of those who spoke in favor were not from Upland, while the majority opposed were Upland residents concerned about truck traffic, noise, pollution and health effects.
“I am so jealous. You guys have an opportunity most cities would kill for,” said Ferdinand Estrada, a Santa Ana resident. “I wish there was a project like this in Santa Ana.”
Kelly Foreman and others spoke about a cash package from Bridge that will help Upland schools. “This will be a great opportunity for Upland,” she said.
Members of Victory Community Church in Upland, including Pastor Tommy Morrow, spoke in favor, emphasizing many people would take advantage of the 300 jobs being created.
Bridge has increased its perks to the city and the community, vowing to give $16 million over the 20-year development agreement.
The city has said the developer is offering “a sales tax in-lieu fee” of $13.5 million. Since a warehouse won’t pay sales tax to the city, the fee is an attempt to make up for revenues the city would expect from a traditional retail development. That money would be earmarked for road maintenance, police services, local public schools, parks and the city’s library.
Bridge also will pay $2.5 million in development fees, which go into the city’s general fund, bringing the total payment to $16 million, Bridge announced. Beyond that, the developer promises to invest $3.5 million in improvements to Foothill Boulevard, Central Avenue and 13th Street.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Upland,” said Heather Crossner, senior vice president of Bridge Development Partners.
Aspinall emphasized that the votes, except the one with the Airport Land Use Committee, “are only recommendations to go to the council. The council will make the final decision.”
Despite that caveat, some residents objected to the Planning Commission voting at all, saying the seven-person body has a vacancy and that on Wednesday, member Alexander Novikov was absent, leaving only five members to vote. The City Council has had difficulties choosing new commission members.
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