Good planning starts with listening. That is the idea behind the Montclair Sphere of Influence Specific Plan, a joint effort by the City of Montclair and San Bernardino County to plan for the future of the County neighborhoods next to our city.
Why now? State law asks cities to take a close look at the County neighborhoods along their borders whenever they update their General Plan, the City’s overall guide for growth. That means looking at how these areas are doing today, what services they may be desirable, and whether they could one day become part of the City.
What is a Specific Plan?
A Specific Plan is a detailed guide for one particular area. Montclair’s General Plan sets big picture goals for the whole city. A Specific Plan zooms in on one place and spells out the details: what kinds of homes and businesses belong there, how streets and sidewalks should work, what new buildings should look like, what repairs and upgrades are needed, and how to pay for them over time.
In June 2024, the City Council approved creating a Specific Plan for the SOI. Councilmembers saw the need for a clear plan that protects what works, fixes what needs attention, and guides new investment that fits the neighborhood. The City is preparing the plan with San Bernardino County, with Rangwala Associates, the firm that prepared Montclair’s General Plan Update, leading the work.
A Specific Plan is a guide for the future. This one sets out what the City would plan for if annexation were ever to occur, and it is being shaped with the people who live in these neighborhoods today.
How will a Specific Plan benefit this area?
The plan gives residents, property owners, and businesses a shared roadmap. Here is how it helps:
- Clear rules for new buildings. Everyone knows ahead of time what can be built and how it should look, so new projects fit the neighborhood.
- Better streets and utilities. The plan will list needed improvements and set a realistic order for getting them done.
- Smart money decisions. The team will study what businesses and housing the area can support, how it may grow over the next 25 years, and how tax dollars could be shared between the City and the County. That way, any future decision about joining the City is based on real numbers.
- A voice for the community. Workshops and public meetings give residents a direct say in what their neighborhoods become.
The work happens in six steps:
- Project Coordination. Getting organized: setting up meetings, talking with residents and local leaders, and planning how to involve the public.
- Discovery. Walking the area block by block to study streets, sidewalks, buildings, utilities, and empty lots.
- Visioning. A three day community charrette, a hands on design workshop where residents work side by side with planners to shape a shared vision for the area.
- Draft Specific Plan. Writing the plan, including where homes and businesses go, how people get around, and clear design rules for new buildings.
- Review and Refine. Sharing drafts with the public, making changes, and completing the required environmental review.
- Adoption. Public hearings where the Planning Commission and City Council vote on the final plan.
We want to protect what people value. The plan will point out which areas should stay as they are and which are ready for improvement, so that anything new fits the character of the neighborhood instead of overwhelming it.
Whether you live in the SOI, own property there, or simply care about Montclair’s future, your voice matters. Join us at upcoming workshops, read the FAQs on this site, and share your ideas. This is your neighborhood, and this is your plan.
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