Diamond Bar Planning Commission to Consider Hotel Zoning for Honda Site

The Diamond Bar Planning Commission will consider an application from the city to establish a hotel overlay zone to enable such a project to be built on the old Honda site should a developer want to construct one there. 

The commission is having a special meeting tonight because their regularly scheduled date falls on Christmas Eve, a city holiday.

The idea behind the proposed overlay zone designation is to make sure the site is consistent with the City Council's goal to “(I)dentify and implement development opportunities for the former Honda dealership property that will result in the greatest net benefit to the community,” according to the agenda.

The overlay designation would ensure that any development plan for the area submitted include a hotel as the primary use, according to staff. 

The Honda site is located northwest corner of State Route 60 and Grand Avenue.

Diamond Bar resident Allen Wilson at Tuesday night's City Council meeting asked why the city is listed as the applicant instead of the property owner.

City Manager Jim DeStefano said often a property owner is the applicant, but a city can be as well.

By state law, a city sets land use policy within its boundaries and sphere of influence, so it is not uncommon that Diamond Bar would be the applicant. He listed the recent Tres Hermanos rezoning as a example where the city was the applicant.

"The city is processing and paying for all the costs associated with that application," he said.

It is the city council that makes the final land use decision. The planning commission will have its hearing and make a recommendation to the council, he said.

"It is a very transparent process," he said. "There is a large sign on property that identifies the rezoning proposal. The information is on our city website." 

The Diamond Bar Planning Commission meets at 7 p.m. tonight in the Windmill Room at City Hall.