The Menifee City Council approved plans for the Heritage Valley Business Center June 17, allowing a nearly 830,000-square-foot warehouse project to move forward.
The approval came despite findings in the project’s Environmental Impact Report that identified significant and unavoidable impacts related to greenhouse gas emissions and transportation. According to the report, the project would exceed the city’s impact threshold by more than 11,000 vehicle miles traveled and produce greenhouse gas emissions above regional thresholds.
Mayor Ricky Estrada cited those concerns in casting the lone dissenting vote.
“As many of you know, warehouses have many impacts to a community and in the staff report, it mentioned this warehouse in particular has many greenhouse gas emissions that I do not want to subject the residents to,” Estrada said. “It has many vehicle miles traveled that would exceed the city impact threshold and for those reasons, I cannot support the project.”
The warehouse will be built on land east of Trumble Road, south of Ethanac Road, west of Sherman Road and north of McLaughlin Road. According to Senior Planner Fernando Herrera, the project includes approximately 829,755 square feet of warehouse space, four access points and 493 parking spaces.
Herrera said the project will require several off-site improvements, including streetlights, landscaping, storm drains, sewers and water infrastructure. Trucks will access the site from Sherman Road.
Several speakers urged the council to approve the project during the public hearing, citing its potential economic benefits and job opportunities.
Robert Ramos, on behalf of Ironworkers Local 416, said the project would provide work for local union members.
“Building a project such as this creates jobs and builds a stronger and better community from day one,” Ramos said. “This developer has committed to local hire, and this will put hundreds of men and women, just like me, to work, earning fair wages and safeguarding our children’s and families’ future.”
The remaining council members voted in favor of the project with no further discussion, approving it on a 4-1 vote.
