Public hearing on new housing development standards in Montclair.

CITY OF MONTCLAIRNOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on Monday, April 27, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. the Planning Commission will hold a public hearing to consider the following:
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MONTCLAIR ADDING CHAPTER 11.79 TO THE MONTCLAIR MUNICIPAL CODE RELATING TO ADDITIONAL DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS TO FACILITATE MINISTERIAL APPROVALS FOR DEVELOPMENT OF MULTI-FAMILY HOUSING CITY-WIDE
The public hearing will be held in the Montclair Council Chambers at the Montclair Civic Center, 5111 Benito Street, Montclair, California 91763, at which time all interested persons or their agents are invited to appear and be heard. The Planning Commission will be making a recommendation to the Montclair City Council concerning the adoption of the Ordinance.
APPLICANT : City of Montclair
PROJECT DESCRIPTION : The Housing Facilitation Ordinance implements Planning Actions required by the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) as a condition of certifying the City’s Adopted Housing Element (2021–2029). The Ordinance adds Section 11.38.110 and Chapter 11.79 to the Montclair Municipal Code to establish additional development standards, procedures, and incentives to facilitate multi-family housing production city-wide, particularly housing that is affordable to low and moderate income households.
On December 2, 2024, the City Council adopted the Montclair 2020 General Plan Update, including the 6th Cycle Housing Element (2021–2029). In a letter dated March 20, 2025, HCD determined that while the Adopted Housing Element complied with state housing element law, several implementing components (Planning Actions) required adoption in order to fully certify the Housing Element and assist the City in meeting its Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) obligations.
PROPOSED ORDINANCE – SUMMARY OF KEY PROVISIONS
The Housing Facilitation Ordinance applies to all “Applicable Property,” defined as:
(a) Any property designated as a “Housing Opportunity Site” in the adopted City of Montclair Housing Element;(b) Any property zoned for multi-family residential or mixed-use development on the Official Zoning Map of the City of Montclair; and(c) Any property designated for multi-family residential or mixed-use development in an applicable specific plan allowing a minimum density of twenty (20) dwelling units per acre, including the Arrow Highway Mixed Use District Specific Plan, the Corridors Code, the Montclair Place District Specific Plan, and the North Montclair Downtown Specific Plan.
The Housing Facilitation Ordinance:
1. Permits multifamily residential uses by-right for developments in which at least 20 percent of the units are affordable to lower-income households; and2. Requires a minimum density of 20 units per acre in certain land use designations; and
3. Requires that sites where mixed uses are allowed be developed with housing where residential uses occupy 50 percent of the total floor area of mixed-use projects; and4. Provides certain development incentives for affordable multifamily residential projects; and5. Establishes certain objective design criteria/standards for development of all multifamily residential and mixed uses projects.
LOCATION : Citywide
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT : The City prepared a Final Environmental Impact Report (Final EIR; SCH No. 2020110481) for the Montclair 2020 General Plan Update, which included analysis of the Housing Element and its implementing programs. The Final EIR was certified by the City Council on December 2, 2024 pursuant to Resolution No. 3436, which also included adoption of CEQA Findings, a Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program, and a Statement of Overriding Considerations. The Housing Facilitation Ordinance is within the scope of the previously certified Final EIR and no further environmental review is required.
The above documents may be viewed at the Community Development Department located at the above address, from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday before the public hearing. For further information concerning this project, please contact Michael Diaz, the project coordinator, at mdiaz@montclairca.gov or at (909) 625-9432. Written comments on the project may be sent by mail to P.O. Box 2308, Montclair, CA 91763, or by facsimile transmittal to the Department at (909) 626-3691. Si desea información en español acerca de esta propuesta, por favor comuníquese con Silvia Gutierrez, sgutierrez@montclairca.gov en la ciudad de Montclair, al teléfono (909) 625-9435.
INVITATION TO BE HEARD: All interested persons will be given an opportunity to comment on the above-referenced item at the public hearing and any subsequent public hearings conducted related to the item. In addition, written comments on the project may be submitted to the Planning Commission prior to the hearing via e-mail or U.S. Mail. All written comments must be received by the City at least one hour before the scheduled hearing, and may be e-mailed to pcclerk@montclairca.gov , or mailed to City of Montclair, Attn: Planning Commission Clerk, P.O. Box 2308, Montclair, CA 91763. Please reference the hearing title and date of hearing in any correspondence. Pursuant to GC 65009(b)(2), legal challenges to the City's action on this project may be limited to only those issues raised in testimony and written comments during the public hearing process.
The City of Montclair does not discriminate against persons with disabilities. If you need special assistance to participate in this meeting, contact the project coordinator. Notification prior to the meeting will enable the City to make reasonable arrangements to ensure accessibility to this meeting. (28 CFR 35.102–35.104 ADA Title II).Publish: Friday, April 3, 2026Inland Valley Daily Bulletin - SBPublished: 4/3/26