San Bernardino Rejects Warehouse Moratorium

An urgency ordinance to place a 45-day moratorium on new warehouse development in the City of San Bernardino failed to meet the 4/5ths vote threshold for passage last night.  Six votes were required.

The measure drew support from Councilmembers Sanchez, Ibarra, Calvin, Reynoso and Alexander with Councilmembers Figueroa and Shorett opposed.

Opposition to the moratorium was organized by local labor organizations and spearheaded by Laborers International Union of North America Local 783 and Carpenter’s Union Local 909, whose members are contracted to build these projects.

Thomas Ruiz of Laborer’s Local 783 called the moratorium “a direct attack on our members and a message that the City of San Bernardino is closed for business.”

Locations for warehouses are determined by the zoning in the City’s General Plan and development code, all of which have been previously approved by the elected city council.  All projects, including warehouse and distribution development, must meet the strict criteria that exists under these documents, the California Environmental Quality Act, and state laws, which also includes separate public approval by the appointed San Bernardino Planning Commission and City Council.

Under California State law, city general plans are required to be revised every ten years.  The City of San Bernardino is in the process of that revision which may take another year to complete.  The city general plan was last revised in 2005.