The demise of Montclair’s iconic Tiki Drive-In Mission came closer to reality last week when the city released a detailed environmental report and a site plan that, if approved, would allow the developer to build a movie theater building.
Since the owner of De Anza Land and Leisure sold 27 acres to a developer for $34.4 million in August 2019, the land was scheduled to be cleared for industrial use by the end of 2020. continued to resist the odds by showing films through 2020 and 2021 while development was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and stay-at-home orders.
Even today, the drive-in theater on Mission Boulevard and Ramona Avenue still screens celluloid through giant projectors, showing family movies while people watch them from their cars.
But car enthusiasts and families looking for outdoor, socially distancing entertainment better fill up quickly because key documents have been drafted and released to the public, an important step toward city approval for the multi-unit warehouse project.
An environmental impact report, along with zoning changes and a site plan, will go to the City Planning Commission for approval by March or April, Community Development Director Michael Diaz said Jan. 18. The city council will later vote on necessary changes to the zones to allow it to be used for industrial purposes, as well as the overall design of the project, he said.
“This is a big project. One of the biggest projects we’ve done in a long time,” Diaz said.
Released January 10, an EIR report prepared for Mission Boulevard Industrial Owner LP and the City of Montclair details the project and potential environmental impacts. The project will include:
• Eight industrial buildings totaling 513,295 square feet, including loading docks, truck-trailer parking lots, and car parking spaces. No tenants have been named.
• Light manufacturing and industrial parks will occupy six buildings in the southern part of the project site, south of Third Street. According to the EIR, the two buildings north of Third Street will be 110,000 square feet and 186,800 square feet and will be used for warehouse and distribution operations.
• Requirements include: solar roofs to facilitate the installation of photovoltaic panels in the future; purchase of 100% renewable electricity; and electric forklifts and yard carts.
The EIR says the project will have a “significant and unavoidable impact” on air quality and greenhouse gas emissions.
The California Air Resources Board noted that the storage project would potentially increase the impact of air pollution on nearby disadvantaged communities, which could lead to cumulative health effects. The project, both construction and operation, will exceed the carbon dioxide (GHG) emission threshold set by the South Coast Air Quality Management Area.
The public has until 18:00 February 24 to submit comments regarding the ERF, project design, site changes and potential impacts. Comments may be directed to: Michael Diaz, Director of Community Development, City of Montclair, 5111 Benito St., Montclair, CA 91763 or email mdiaz@cityofmontclair.org.