SCH Number 2023080366

Project Info

Title

Moreno Valley Business Park Building 5

Description

The Project proposes approximately 220,390 square feet of light industrial uses within an approximately 9.98-acre site within Specific Plan No. 205, located generally at the southeast corner of Ironwood Avenue at Heacock Street. Pursuant to the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), this DEIR evaluates and discloses the potential environmental effects resulting from the construction and operation of the proposed Project, located generally at the southeast corner of Ironwood Avenue and Heacock Street (“Project Site”). The Project, consists of the following: a) a General Plan Amendment (Land Use Element) redesignating the Project Site’s General Plan Land Use Designation from “Commercial” to “Business Park/Light Industrial”; b) a Specific Plan Amendment amending the Moreno Valley Festival Specific Plan (Specific Plan No. 205), as amended by Amendment No. 1, to accommodate the development of Business Park/Light Industrial uses on the Project Site; c) related amendments to the City’s Zoning Atlas to be consistent with changes made to the Project Site’s land use designations as set forth in the 2006 General Plan and Specific Plan No 205; d) a Lot Line Adjustment or Parcel Map to combine and reconfigure the existing parcels within the Project Site to accommodate the proposed use of the Project Site; e) a Site Plan/Plot Plan addressing design and layout of the proposed uses of the Project Site; and f) Infrastructure Improvement Plans including, but not limited to, roads, sewer, water, storm water management system, and dry utilities plans. The Moreno Valley Festival Specific Plan (Specific Plan No. 205) was adopted by the City of Moreno Valley circa 1987 (the “Original Specific Plan”). The Original Specific Plan encompassed approximately 73.74 acres located at the southeast corner of Ironwood Avenue (E – W) and Heacock Street (N – S). The Original Specific Plan was first amended in 2018, which is known as “Specific Plan No. 205, Amendment No. 1” or “1st Amendment.” The 1st Amendment provided a wider range of land uses and development types than permitted in the Original Specific Plan, which was a response to the then current development trends. The 1st Amendment revised the land uses and development standards affecting approximately 64 acres within the Original Specific Plan area. The 1st Amendment specifically excluded properties located at the southeast corner of Ironwood Avenue at Heacock Street, which otherwise remain in Specific Plan No. 205. The expanded range of allowable uses approved under the 1st Amendment included commercial/retail development, retail uses, and open space designations. The 1st Amendment also facilitated the extension of Davis Street north to connect with the segment of Davis Street that extends north of Ironwood Avenue. The Project will amend the Specific Plan No. 205’s “Land Use Plan” for those properties (consisting of approximately 9.98 acres) that were excluded under the 1st Amendment. (See Figure 1.2-1, Project Location.) The Project will redesignate the 9.98 acres from “Retail Commercial” to “Mix of Uses,” to accommodate the development of Building 5, which will consist of up to 220,390 square feet of light industrial uses. To maintain consistency between the changes to the Specific Plan No. 205’s Land Use Plan, the Land Use Designations of the applicable 2006 General Plan will be amended to redesignate the Project Site’s General Plan Land Use Designation from “Commercial” to “Business Park/Light Industrial.” This is the Land Use Designation needed to accommodate manufacturing, research and development, warehousing and distribution, as well as office and support commercial activities. As discussed in the City General Plan, “The zoning regulations shall identify the particular uses permitted on each parcel of land. Development intensity should not exceed a Floor Area Ratio [FAR] of 1.00 and the average floor area ratio should be significantly less . . .” (City of Moreno Valley General Plan, p. 2-14). The Project will include approximately 220,390 square feet of light industrial uses within an approximately 9.98-acre (434,730 square feet) Project Site – yielding an FAR of approximately 0.51. The Project’s light industrial uses are consistent with uses allowed under the Business Park/Light Industrial General Plan Land Use designation. The Project’s FAR (0.51) is consistent with and would not exceed the General Plan FAR (1.0) established for the Business Park/Light Industrial General Plan Land Use designation. The Project uses would be implemented consistent with zoning established under Specific Plan No. 205, as amended herein. This Section identifies Project background issues, provides an overview of the Project and its Objectives, and summarizes the potential environmental impacts of the Project. Table 1.14-1, Impacts and Mitigation Summary, presented at the conclusion of this Section, lists these impacts and presents the mitigation measures recommended to eliminate or reduce the effects of those impacts which have been determined to be potentially significant. For a full description of the Project, its impacts, recommended mitigation measures, and considered Alternatives, please see EIR Sections 3.0, 4.0, and 5.0, respectively.

2 documents in project