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New Warehouses Will Be Allowed In Pomona Again After City Council Ban Fails By One Vote
Warehouses like this one are a common site in industrial zones of Pomona and the Inland Empire.
(
Anthony Victoria
/
Earth Justice
)
Topline:
New warehouses will be able to operate in Pomona after a one-year ban expires on Dec. 31. The city plans to revamp its zoning code next spring and summer to address longstanding concerns from local residents and advocates.
Why it matters: Warehouses contribute to air pollution in the surrounding areas, largely due to diesel trucks that idle near warehouses. "I always play this game called, was that an earthquake or was that a semi truck?" said Councilmember Nora Garcia, who lives about 1,000 feet from an industrial zone.
Why now: An extension of the ban was approved by a 5-2 vote in the Pomona City Council, but it needed a 6-1 vote to pass.
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The backstory: Pomona first passed the moratorium on new warehouses in 2022, citing concerns about pollution and road damage from trucks in the immigrant communities of color near industrial zones.
What's next: After the moratorium expires, city officials will start drafting new zoning regulations for Pomona. Some of the city's rules date back 75 years, according to Garcia. "My concern is, in this window, what businesses are going to come in that are going to be incompatible with our new zoning code for the 21st century," she said.
Go deeper: Learn more about the history of warehouses in the Inland Empire, as well as other cities that have pushed back on their construction.
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