REDLANDS, Calif. — The Redlands Planning Commission voted during their March 11 meeting to deny a city-initiated rezoning proposal that would have changed approximately five acres along Cortez Street from Agricultural (A-1) to Residential Estate (R-E) zoning.
Why it matters: The commission's decision comes after hearing emotional testimonies from residents who want to maintain their rural lifestyle in the North Redlands neighborhood.
Details: The rezoning proposal, initiated by the city's Development Services Department, aims to bring the zoning into alignment with the area's General Plan designation of "Very Low Density Residential."
Kevin Beery, the senior planner for the city, explained that rezoning would affect 16 lots along Cortez Street, a private road located south of Dearborn Street and approximately 300 feet east of Sessums Drive.
"This action is also part of an ongoing effort by staff to correct identified inconsistencies between the zoning and general plan maps for various properties throughout the city," Beery said.
Eight of the lots contain single-family residences built between 1920 and 1949, while the other eight remain undeveloped. The area has been zoned Agricultural (A-1) since the city's adoption of the zoning ordinance in the 1950s.
Brian Desatnik, Redlands’ development services director, provided additional context about why the rezoning is being considered.
"Clearly this whole area was agricultural at one point. And when the city went to do a new general plan and as land uses started to change this area, it was probably an oversight that this area didn't change at that time," Desatnik said.
He added that the rezoning was partly driven by a property owner who wanted to subdivide their lot and add an additional unit, which isn't possible under agricultural zoning.
What they’re saying: Residents, however, expressed strong opposition to the proposed change. Jessica Batres, who lives on Cortez Street, voiced concerns about potential impacts on their quiet neighborhood.
"If you guys change it, there's going to be more building on the street, it's going to be louder. We like it quiet," Batres says. "And some of us have animals that wouldn't align with residential."
Another resident, Marcella Juarez, who has lived in the area for 23 years, delivered an emotional testimony through a translator about her family's connection to the rural property.
Rresident, Marcella Juarez, who has lived in the area for 23 years, delivered an emotional testimony through a translator about her family's connection to the rural property. (Still from city of Redlands video)
"We love nature," she said. "All of our neighbors also enjoy the same things. We enjoy being outside and living in the rural community that we live in and all of ourselves and our neighbors are able to enjoy that, as the property currently is."
Juarez described how her family has enjoyed seeing wildlife, including herds of deer, on the surrounding landscape, and that her children have learned to love nature because of where they live. She questioned why the change is happening without residents requesting it.
"We're seeing with this proposed change that our lifestyles are being affected without asking us first," she said. "We deserve to be respected just as much as anyone else."
She added that her elderly neighbor is particularly struggling with the potential changes. "This is the place that we call home. And if we wanted to go somewhere else that was residentially zoned, then we would go there, but we’d like to keep the agricultural and rural quality of the current property and our community."
The decision: During deliberations, commissioners express sympathy for the residents' concerns and question whether the rezoning meets the required findings, particularly whether it relates to public health, safety or general welfare.
"I don't see this as really a public health, safety or general welfare benefit to the city,” Vice Chair Matt Endsley said. “If that gives the property owners a sense of comfort and security for how they use the property today, whether it's in conformance with the zoning or not... I don't see any reason to change."
Commissioner Marc Stanson agreed, saying, "I don't see any benefit to the neighborhood to change it."
When questioned about what would happen if the rezoning is denied, Desatnik noted that the city could make an argument that the current zoning still falls within residential use since residential use is allowed in agricultural zones.
"I think we could make an argument that it still falls within the subset of residential because residential use is allowed, and so we would probably leave it alone," he said.
The commission ultimately voted unanimously to deny the rezoning request, recommending that the City Council not approve Zone Change Number 480.
Moving forward: Commissioner Rosemarie Gonzalez suggested the issue could be revisited in the future if more properties transition to residential use.
"If it's like 80%, then we could perhaps revisit that where there's more residential than the vacant properties," she said.
For now, residents can continue their current lifestyle without concerns about new restrictions on animal keeping or agricultural activities that might come with residential zoning.
