Redlands reopens warehouse debate amid community pressure

REDLANDS, Calif. — The Redlands Planning Commission will discuss three proposals related to warehouse development during its regular meeting Tuesday, May 27.

Why it matters: The proposals are the latest in the city’s ongoing debate over warehouse expansion—a controversy that began with a development moratorium in 2022 and led to a new ordinance adopted in 2023. Critics say the existing rules don’t go far enough to protect public health, while others argue they already exceed new state standards.

Proposed distribution warehouse developments in 2024 draw large public outcry during city meetings. Ultimately, the City Council denied one project and approved another.

Details: Commissioners will review the city’s warehouse ordinance—Ordinance No. 2955—which established restrictions on warehouse size, location, and design, including a requirement that new facilities be located within one mile of a freeway ramp and meet higher environmental standards. The item was placed on the agenda at the request of the commission to consider whether to recommend additional restrictions or even a full prohibition on new warehouse development.

The discussion will include an overview of Assembly Bill 98, a new state law taking effect Jan. 1, 2026, which sets minimum design and environmental standards for large warehouses in designated “warehouse concentration areas,” including Redlands. While AB 98 includes requirements like electric vehicle infrastructure and truck route planning, city officials note that Redlands’ ordinance remains stricter in key areas, such as a lower size threshold for regulation and proximity requirements to freeway ramps.

Three potential policy directions are on the table:

1. Maintain the current ordinance, which already imposes more limits than the state requires and allows for the development of new distribution warehouses in a handful of locations throughout Redlands.
2. Adopt strategic zoning amendments to further limit warehouse development, such as expanding buffer zones near schools or residential areas.
3. Ban new warehouse development altogether by making it a non-permitted land use. Under this option, the city could either:

• Allow existing facilities to continue operating for a limited time under an amortization period or
• Terminate existing operations without a grace period—though staff warn this could result in costly legal challenges and states in the agenda "this option is not recommended."

What’s next: The Planning Commission will discuss the options during its meeting Tuesday. If a majority of the Commission agrees on amending the Zoning Regulations (option 2), then the Commission will direct staff to return with additional information.

Planning Commission Meeting Information:

View the full Planning Commission agenda here.

Tuesday, May 27 at 4:00 p.m. 
City Council Chambers
35 Cajon Street
Redlands, California

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Visit www.zoom.us, click Join a Meeting
Enter Meeting ID: 884 6352 1324
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