Monday, April 18, 2022
Contact: (916) 210-6000, agpressoffice@doj.ca.gov
Over the past five years, Fontana has been the statewide epicenter of warehouse development near schools, hospitals, and other sensitive sites
LOS ANGELES – California Attorney General Rob Bonta today announced an innovative settlement with the City of Fontana to protect vulnerable communities from pollution associated with industrial development where they live, work, and go to school. Today’s settlement, once entered by the court, will resolve allegations that the City of Fontana violated the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) in approving the Slover and Oleander warehouse project in south Fontana. As part of today’s settlement, developer Duke Realty will be required to adopt substantial mitigation measures to minimize the impacts of the Slover and Oleander warehouse project to the surrounding community. More broadly, the City of Fontana last week adopted an ordinance, as required by the settlement, setting stringent environmental standards for all future warehouse development in Fontana.
“For years, warehouse development in Fontana went unchecked, and it’s our most vulnerable communities that have paid the price,” said Attorney General Rob Bonta. “South Fontana residents shouldn’t have to choose between economic opportunity and clean air. They deserve both. Today’s settlement demonstrates how innovative solutions can be used to address environmental injustices, without hindering development. Because when we build, we must build responsibly. Most importantly, the impacts of this settlement are not limited to mitigating the impacts of a single project. As a result of our lawsuit, the City of Fontana has adopted the most stringent environmental standards in California for new warehouse projects. This ordinance should serve as a model for other local governments across the state to build upon. We must ensure that future development does not repeat past mistakes.”