TO: ARCHITECTURAL AND PRESERVATION COMMISSION
FROM: BRAD JOHNSON, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
DATE: JUNE 11, 2025
SUBJECT:
Title
ARCHITECTURAL AND SITE PLAN REVIEW #25-A04, REVIEW OF PROPOSED PHOTOVOLTAIC SOLAR PANEL SYSTEM MOUNTED TO NEW CARPORTS IN PARKING LOTS LOCATED AT 101 SOUTH MILLS FOR THE CLAREMONT COLLEGE SERVICES COMPLEX. APPLICANT - MBL ENERGY
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SUMMARY
MBL Energy has requested approval of the architectural design and site plan for approximately 39,054 square feet of solar panels mounted to new carport shade canopies to be located in the parking lots of the Claremont Colleges Services Building. The site is located immediately south of East First Street and approximately 100 feet west of South Claremont Boulevard.
The Proposal includes a site plan, shade structure design details, colors, materials, a tree disposition plan, and landscape plan that places eight large shade canopies with a total area of 39,054 square feet of three parking areas located on the TCCS Administrative Campus. The panels will be used to produce renewable energy for the Claremont Colleges. An aerial photo indicating the project location and rendering of the proposed structures are also included.
While solar panel projects are generally exempt from discretionary review by cities, the canopy structures will be visible from First Street and will require design review by the Architectural and Preservation Commission. The shade canopy structures have been designed to match the modern architecture of the Claremont Colleges Services administrative campus in terms of shape, proportion, and color. They have also been designed to minimize their visual impacts to First Street through slope, shielded lighting, and augmentation of the perimeter landscaping. Because the parking lot is landscaped with young oak trees that are incompatible with the solar panels, 32 trees are proposed to be removed as part of the Project. The TCCS has voluntarily proposed to replace these trees at various locations around the campus. Five of these trees are proposed to be located on the perimeter of the Project site. The location of the remaining 27 trees has not yet been specified.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommended Action
Staff recommends the Architectural and Preservation Commission:
A. Adopt a RESOLUTION OF THE ARCHITECTURAL AND PRESERVATION COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF CLAREMONT, CALIFORNIA APPROVING ARCHITECTURAL AND SITE PLAN REVIEW #25-A04, REVIEW OF PROPOSED PHOTOVOLTAIC SOLAR PANEL SYSTEM MOUNTED TO NEW CARPORTS IN PARKING LOTS LOCATED AT 101 SOUTH MILLS FOR THE CLAREMONT COLLEGE SERVICES COMPLEX. APPLICANT - MBL ENERGY; and
B. Find this item is exempt from environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
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ALTERNATIVES TO RECOMMENDATION
In addition to the staff recommendation, there are the following alternatives:
A. Continue the item for additional information or redesign of the proposal.
B. Approve the Project with additional or revised conditions of approval.
C. Express the intent to deny the request, specifically identifying the design review criteria that cannot be met and continue the matter to the June 25, 2025 meeting for adoption of a denial resolution.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
The costs associated with this review have been borne by the applicant.
ANALYSIS
Copies of the proposed site plan, elevations, site photos, colors and materials palette, construction details for structure sections, arborist’s report, and landscape plans are attached (Attachments B, C, & D).
Background
The Project is located on The Claremont Colleges Service administrative campus, which is located at 101 S Mills Avenue. The site has a General Plan land use designation of Institutional and zoned Institutional Educational (IE). The site is bordered on the east by Claremont Boulevard, on the south by the Metrolink San Bernadino Line, on the north by the Pomona College Campus and Arbol Verde neighborhood and on the west by the Claremont Transit Center (Metrolink Parking Lot). The nearest non-college building, a single-family residence is located approximately 82 feet east of the eastern edge of the proposed shade canopies. The property is separated from the adjacent parking lot on the TCCS campus by a wide landscaped area.
Development Standards
Development standards of the IE zone apply to the project location as follows in bold with proposed standards listed in (italics):
• Minimum setbacks: 25 feet (on all sides)
• Maximum building height: 25 feet
• Maximum lot coverage: 60% for entire campus
• Maximum floor area ratio (FAR): 1:1 for entire campus
Parking
The structures will not displace parking for the campus and may help reduce demand for spaces by providing a shade amenity that the other lots do not have. TCCS continues to maintain a small surplus of parking spaces.
Project Description
The propose project is similar to many existing solar panel carport projects that have already been constructed at locations throughout the City including Pilgrim Place, US Bank, and several CUSD campuses, such as Harvey Mudd College. The panels are organized on 8 separate carport structures, with a total area of 39,054 square feet.
The structures closest to the property line adjacent to the Metrolink Line are single bay wide, which keeps the height relatively low (13’-9” to 14’ 6” at their highest point) and creates a more light and open feeling. Structures in the interior of the parking lot are wider to cover two bays of parking. This makes them taller at their highest point (14’- 6” to 19’- 1”). The slope of the structures is de-emphasized by the flattening the slope and providing a wider frame that visually squares off some of the angle. On the underside of the panels, screens are provided to shield lighting and hide secondary framing and conduit.
Landscape Plan
The applicant has provided a tree survey and disposition plan for all trees located on the site as well as the adjacent public Right of Way along the south side of First Street. The report, which was prepared by a certified arborist (Cy Carlburg and Associates), identifies and maps the location of all existing trees. Species, botanical name, trunk diameter (at breast height), condition, form, and health are identified for each tree. The report rates each tree’s suitability for retention, relocation, or removal. The report notes that the proposed carports necessitate the removal of 32 trees on the site. The 32 trees to be removed are planted in the interior of the parking lots and removal is necessary for the installation of the proposed solar arrays. A copy of the Arborist Report is Attachment C. To make up for the loss of these trees and help screen the solar canopies, the applicant is proposing to augment the large planters and medians surrounding the main project site (eastern parking lot) with a mix of medium- and large-sized native plants including Rhus Ovata, Rhus Integrifolia, Prunus Ilicifolia, Ribes Aureum, and Rosa Californica. Conceptual landscape plans are provided in Attachment D.
Basis for Recommendation
Staff finds that the proposal satisfies all of the architectural design review criteria listed in CMC Section 16.300.060.A for the reasons stated in the draft approval resolution.
The proposed improvements are energy efficient in that the proposal utilizes existing parking lots to develop clean renewable electrical energy for use in campus services buildings. The project features a high-quality design that is consistent with similar solar projects other Claremont College campuses and will be further enhanced with the proposed landscape screening along First Street and Claremont Blvd. The project has been designed to harmonize with adjacent buildings and the surrounding streetscape. Finally, the structures and use are consistent with the development standards of the Municipal Code.
As such, staff recommends that the Architectural and Preservation Commission approve the proposed design, subject to the conditions of approval contained in the Draft Approval Resolution (Attachment A).
CEQA REVIEW
The project is excluded from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section 21080.35 Exclusions regarding installation of solar energy systems for existing facilities, in that the project relates to installation of a solar energy system at an existing parking lot and does not contain any of the conditions that would disqualify the use of this exclusion. Therefore, no further environmental review is necessary.
PUBLIC NOTICE PROCESS
The agenda and staff report for this item have been posted on the City website and distributed to interested parties. If you desire a copy, please contact Pearl Juarez at pjuarez@claremontca.com.
Notice of this design review was sent to all property owners located within 300 feet of the project site on Thursday, May 15, 2025. On May 28, 2025, the Commission rescheduled the item to their June 11, 2025 meeting due to a lack of a quorum. A notice of the rescheduling was provided verbally to all in attendance. A notification of the rescheduling of the item was sent to all property owners within 300 feet on June 2, 2025. Copies of this staff report have been sent to the applicant and other interested parties.
Submitted by: Prepared by:
Brad Johnson Jordan Goose
Community Development Director Assistant Planner
Reviewed by:
Chris Viers
Principal Planner
Attachments:
A - Draft Resolution
B - Plans and Elevations
C - Arborist Report
D - Arborist Plant Palette