Council Seeks to Extend Honda Site Building Moratorium

The Diamond Bar City Council will discuss at a meeting Tuesday whether or not to extend a moratorium issuing land use permits for shuttered Diamond Bar Honda site at the northwest corner of Grand Avenue at the State Route 60 on-ramp.

The move follows up Council approval last month of a contract to do a market analysis on what types of businesses would be best suited for the property at Grand Avenue and the 57/60 freeway interchange.

The Honda dealership has been dark since around 2006, according to city staff. With the Burger King closing Jan. 31, the property is totally vacant. 

In April 2012, the council adopted an interim ordinance that placed a 45-day moratorium on issuing land use permits for the northwest corner of Grand Avenue at the State Route 60 onramp.

A month later, the council extended the ordinance for a year.  The ban expires this month.  Extending it another year would give the city time to complete its market analysis, according to the city's staff report.

The Honda dealership moved to the City of Industry, as Caltrans started its plans to construct a direct westbound onramp to the freeway, according to city officials.  Plans for the property are further complicated by a proposed NFL stadium project that could be built next door in Industry.

Caltrans’ plan to revamp the on-ramp would take just under an acre of land from the current property.  However, the city has an agreement with Industry to grant right-of-way to a stadium, if it is built, that would offset the loss.

City Manager Jim DeStefano told the council last month that city originally issued the moratorium due to private party discussions regarding land uses for the site that officials felt would have “grossly underutilized the property.”

Grand Avenue gets around 40,000 trips per day in traffic, he said.  The 60/57 interchange sees about 350,000 trips per day.

The 4.5-acre Honda site could be ideal for a hotel, restaurants, and other retail that caters to the business traveler or commuter, he said.

The analysis will look at potential uses for the property with a proposed NFL stadium next door and without one.  City of Industry officials have said that if the stadium does not go forward, they may develop the land next to the Honda site into a business center.

The hearing will be at the regular Tuesday City Council meeting at the AQMD/Government Center – Auditorium at 21865 Copley Drive.  The meeting starts at 6:30 and the hearing is expected to start around 6:45 p.m, according to the staff report.