Division 10 — COMMON AND PUBLIC OPEN SPACE STANDARDS

Editor's note— Ord. No. 1906, § 73, adopted Oct. 25, 2022, amended the title of Div. 10 to read as herein set out. The former Div. 10 title pertained to Public Open Space Standards.

The purpose of this section is to provide common open spaces and a catalog of pre-approved public open space types that are appropriate to use within walkable urban environments.

(Ord. No. 1906, § 73, 10-25-22; Ord. No. 1923, § 5(Exh. A), 9-12-23)

(a)

This section describes the guidelines for the development of common and public open spaces throughout the Form-Based Code areas.

(b)

The standards in this section shall apply to all proposed development within the Form-Based Code districts and shall be considered in combination with the standards for the applicable district.

(c)

Additional public open spaces can be integrated into this section as they are approved by the City of Fontana.

(d)

The downtown core shall be required to comply with 30-404.1.

(Ord. No. 1906, § 73, 10-25-22; Ord. No. 1923, § 5(Exh. A), 9-12-23)

Common open spaces and public open spaces play an important role in place-making. Their standards must be considered alongside building form, building types, frontage types, and thoroughfares in creating urban environments. The diverse palette of common open spaces, parks and other publicly accessible open spaces are assigned to one or more downtown zones.

(Ord. No. 1906, § 73, 10-25-22)

Each application that involves at least two acres shall be required to provide a minimum of five percent of the project area as either common open space or public open space. The required open space shall be designed in compliance with the applicable requirements from Exhibit 404.A.—Public Open Space Types.

For development projects that are two acres or more in size that propose only commercial development (no residential uses)or civic development, the Planning Commission shall have the authority to reduce or eliminate the requirements for open space size, type, and location if the following findings are made:

(1)

The proposed commercial use(s) is incompatible with a large open space area.

(2)

The Police Department recommends the elimination or reduction of the open space requirement.

(3)

Eliminating or reducing the open space requirement promotes public health and safety.

Subdividing or phasing the project to separate commercial and residential uses or to reduce lot size to less than two acres shall not eliminate the open space requirement.

(Ord. No. 1846, § 2, 11-10-20; Ord. No. 1906, § 73, 10-25-22)

(a)

Common open spaces shall be designed within private development projects for patrons of commercial development and residential communities with amenities as required in [Section] 30-404 below.

(b)

Public open spaces shall be designed as one of the public open space types defined in Exhibit 30-404.A.

(c)

Public open spaces shall include amenities such as seating, lighting, and landscaping.

(d)

Public open spaces shall be built within the development area by developers as development occurs.

(e)

At the discretion of the Planning Director, required open space may be constructed off-site and/or as part of a larger public open space that will be provided by the City or other private developments.

(f)

Common open spaces shall include an amenity such as a tot lot, outdoor sports recreation area, bar-b-que with picnic tables, or equivalent. This requirement can include paseos connecting the amenity to the rest of the site.

(g)

All public open spaces shall abut public right-of-way or be otherwise connected to public sidewalks and shall be open to the public 24 hours per day. At the discretion of the Community Development Planning Director, public access to a public open space may be restricted after dark.

(h)

All public open spaces shall be visible from surrounding streets and masses of shrubs around edges shall be avoided.

(Ord. No. 1906, § 73, 10-25-22)

(Ord. No. 1923, § 5(Exh. A), 9-12-23)

Editor's note— Ord. No. 1923, § 5(Exh. A), adopted Sept. 12, 2023, amended § 30-405 in its entirety, in effect repealing and reenacting said § 30-405 to read as set out herein. The former § 30-405, pertained to Downtown Form-Based Code sub-district map and derived from Prior Code.