COLTON COURIER Weekly
June 20, 2024
Vol 152, NO. 26
Colton Gentlemen's Club Closed: Amended Agreement Finalized, Mini-Mart Replacement Canceled, Digital Billboard Contingent By Manny Sandoval
A
fter years of legal and regulatory challenges, the City of Colton has reached a significant milestone regarding the property at 2680 S. La Cadena Drive. An amended agreement, which includes the permanent closure of 215 Gentlemen's Club (215 GC), the cancellation of a proposed mini-mart replacement, and the conditional construction of a digital billboard, was finalized and approved by the City Council.
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Colton Development Services Director Heidi Duron provided background on the long-standing issue. "The subject property, located at the northwest corner of Interstate 215 and Iowa Avenue, has been an adult nightclub for many years. The 1998 consent decree required the owner to transition the use by January 31, 2009. However, the City revised its adult business regulations in 2016 and pursued enforcement in 2018, leading to the current agreement."
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PHOTO MANNY SANDOVAL
Club 215 sitting empty at 2680 S. La Cadena Drive.
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The original agreement, known as the "Public Benefit,
Digital Billboard and Expired Land Use Settlement Agreement," required the owner to convert 215 GC into a service station and mini-mart, remove the existing pole sign, and construct a digital billboard. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted this timeline, leading to significant delays. "Although the agreement contained specific timelines, the pandemic caused supply chain issues that hindered compliance," said Duron. "As the situation eased, the Council directed staff and the City Attorney to amend the agreement, moving up the closure of the adult nightclub, which has been verified closed since at least May 2024." The newly approved amendments include key changes: The owner is given two years to evaluate billboard market conditions before construction. Rights to the billboard construction can now be transferred to a third party, not just family members. The adult club is permanently closed and cannot reopen. Gentlemen’s Club, cont. next pg.
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Rep. AguilarInland Empire Community Announces $1.6 Million Newspapers to Lower Energy Office: (909) 381-9898Costs for Affordable Housing Residents Pg. 5 Inland Empire Community Newspapers Office: (909) 381-9898 Editorial: iecn1@mac.com Advertising: iecn1@mac.com Legals : iecnlegals@gmail.com
PHOTO ZSTOCK PHOTOS
A contractor installing solar panels onto the roof of a home in Southern California.
By Manny Sandoval
A
groundbreaking analysis released last week by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and Energy + Environmental Economics (E3) reveals that strategic electrification projects in California, including the Inland Empire, could save gas utility customers $20 billion by 2045. The report emphasizes that replacing aging gas pipelines with electrification programs
could cut annual utility costs significantly, benefiting Inland Empire residents. The California Energy Commission warns that without intervention, gas bills could soar to $600 per month by 2050 due to the steep costs of maintaining outdated gas infrastructure. The NRDC and E3 report estimates that California gas utilities plan to replace 8,900 miles of gas distribution lines by 2045 at a staggering cost of $43 billion. Instead, the report suggests a geo-
graphically-targeted electrification initiative that would power entire neighborhoods with clean energy, offering households zero-emission appliances like heat pumps. This approach is projected to cost half as much as gas pipeline investments, saving customers money while enhancing air quality, climate resilience, and community affordability. Switching from gas would also cut cliClean Energy, cont. next pg.