Redlands Planning Commission considers warehouse prohibition

REDLANDS, Calif. — The Redlands Planning Commission met on Tuesday, Nov. 12, to discuss potential changes to the city's warehouse ordinance, including the possibility of prohibiting new warehouse developments citywide.

The commission voted unanimously to request staff conduct further analysis on prohibiting warehouse development in all zoning throughout the city, with options ranging from a full ban to other potential restrictions.

Why it matters: The discussion came as part of a review of the city's existing warehouse ordinance, which went into effect in May 2023. The ordinance was approved following concerns about large trucks traveling through residential neighborhoods, warehouses located too close to schools and a desire for sites to be closer to freeway access. 

Currently, the ordinance applies to new warehouse projects of 50,000 square feet or more and includes requirements on site location, screening, traffic patterns, sustainable energy and construction methods.

Details: Vice Chair Matt Endsley, who proposed the motion, emphasized the need to get ahead of potential warehouse proposals in Redlands.

"Knowing that we have the potential in front of us where developers of such facilities may acquire land only to demolish, flatten and ask for a change of zoning or to bring it back for the commission or the City Council's review to approve a warehouse, my hope is that we're getting out ahead of that," Endsley said.

City staff presented a comparison between Redlands' ordinance and the recently passed state Assembly Bill 98, which will take effect in January 2026. While the city's ordinance already meets or exceeds many of AB 98's requirements, it goes further in some areas, such as defining warehouses at a lower square footage threshold.

Commissioners expressed concern about the potential for warehouse development to dramatically alter Redlands' character, even in areas not currently zoned for such use.

"Do we want to continue to have the Redlands that our residents have grown to love, or do we want to allow the potential over a long period of time for redevelopment of this corridor that just is completely warehouses?" Endsley asked.

The commission's request for further analysis will likely take two to three months and cost under $5,000, according to city staff. The analysis will examine legal implications of prohibiting new warehouse development while potentially grandfathering in existing facilities.

"We'd probably bring back a menu of options to you," said Chris Boatman, the Redlands assistant city manager. "What I'm hearing from the commission that's discussed this so far is looking at what it would look like to change the zoning to prohibit warehousing up to an all-out non-conforming use for existing as well, and then a menu of options in between."

Commission response: Commissioner Conrad Guzkowski spoke in support of researching potential options noting both changes in the understanding of the impact of warehousing in the region and in response to how residents have "invested" to be part of the planning process.

"I think it’s a matter of commitment and faith, good faith service to the community to have this re-examined with a fresh set of eyes and fresh conversation and fresh discussion," Guzkowski said.

Commission Maryn Wells said she supports another look at the ordinance given the more recent community concerns.

"I think that you know, when we were developing this ordinance, we were still kind of in the pandemic years where people may not have been as involved, but they've certainly turned out this year to voice their opinion," Wells said. 

Public comments: Public comments on the issue were mixed. One resident cautioned against an overly restrictive approach, noting the historical shift in attitudes toward warehouse development.

"Those places that we're thinking about are saturated with warehouses. That's the way it's going to be from now and forever. And one more warehouse plus or minus really isn't going to make that much difference compared to what's already there."

Another resident supported stricter warehouse regulations but expressed frustration with the city's handling of recent warehouse proposals.

“Amending warehousing standards now is the epitome of closing the barn door after the horse is gone. To be honest, I'm completely frustrated with the process I've seen unfold over the past few months,” they said. 

Moving forward: The commission's recommendation will return for further discussion once the legal analysis is complete. If an ordinance is drafted, it will go through the normal approval process by the Planning Commission before heading to the City Council for final consideration.