April 18, 2023
The Honorable Cecilia Aguiar-Curry, Chair
Assembly Local Government Committee
1020 N Street, Room 157
Sacramento, CA 95814
SUBJECT: AB 1748 (Ramos) – Qualifying Logistics Use Projects – SUPPORT – As Amended March 30, 2023
Dear Assemblymember Aguiar-Curry and Members of the Committee:
Inland Action strongly supports AB 1748 (Ramos). Inland Action is a non-profit, non-partisan organization of over fifty leading businesses and organizations in the Inland Empire region, spanning multiple industries, including transportation, housing, education, health care, and legal services. Inland Action takes positions on legislation that affects the Inland Empire region which includes San Bernardino and Riverside County. For this reason, the subject bill is of utmost importance to Inland Action.
AB 1748 is a balanced and reasonable approach to logistics facility development while supporting the discretionary land use authority of local elected officials in San Bernardino and Riverside counties by allowing local jurisdictions to develop policies for their communities. The bill addresses the need to mitigate vital health concerns important to the region, while protecting critical product supply chains in the State.
AB 1748 requires local agencies in the Inland Empire to comply with certain limitations when approving the development or expansion of qualifying logistics projects near sensitive receptors such as homes, schools, or parks. A local agency may not approve these projects unless there is 1) a minimum 300-feet setback or 2) the agency follows an industrial guideline framework, good neighbor policy, or a sustainability ordinance which adequately balances siting qualifying logistics uses near sensitive receptors. AB 1748 enacts a reasonable policy framework to address concerns about development near sensitive receptors while allowing new projects to still move forward with sensible mitigation measures. It preserves the land use authority of city and county governments, allowing local elected officials to decide what developments are appropriate for their communities. This preservation of land use authority of our city and county governments is critical to our support of AB 1748.
Inland Action strongly supports legislation that provides opportunities for local communities to adopt measures that meet their local needs. For these reasons, Inland Action requests an “Aye” vote on AB 1748 (Ramos).
Sincerely,
Deborah Barmack
President