PP 18-04
Summary
SCH Number
2021120453
Public Agency
March Joint Powers Authority
Document Title
PP 18-04
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
12/20/2021
Document Description
On December 11, 2019, the March Joint Powers Commission approved multiple applications on the 35.4-acre K4 parcel, including the Final EIR, a General Plan Amendment to approve the Industrial land use designation, and a Plot Plan application to allow a 718,000 square foot warehouse distribution building. The supporting Zone Change was formally adopted on January 8, 2020.
The building is near construction completion, and the developer requests that the required solar voltaic system be deferred for up to a five-year period, or until another tenant occupies the building. The applicant has identified that due to a 33,000 square/foot reduction in building size and due to occupancy of the building by a low-intensity third-party logistic provider (3PL) as compared to the fulfillment center analyzed in the project EIR, the tenant will have fewer employees, fewer employee vehicle trips, fewer truck trips, and significantly reduced greenhouse gas emission, as shown below:
Comparison of CEQA Analysis for High-Cube Fulfillment Center
Versus Proposed 3rd Party Logistics Provider
K4 EIR (718,000 s/f) Proposed (685,000 s/f)
Fulfillment Center 3rd Party Logistics
Car Trips 5,356 58
Truck Trips 517 80
Total Trips 5,873 138
The limited operations of the 3rd Party Logistic Provider results in a substantial reduction in the emission of greenhouse gasses, significantly below the mitigated levels projected in the Project EIR. As identified below, the proposed user would result in 12,245 fewer MT CO2e per year than the use analyzed in the 2019 EIR.
Comparison of CEQA Analysis for High-Cube Fulfillment Center
Versus Proposed 3rd Party Logistics Provider (MT CO2e per year)
Fulfillment Center Proposed 3-Party Logistic Provider
Area 0.04 0.04
Nat Gas/Elect) -1,342 258
Water/Wastewater 18 583
Solid Waste 123 324
On-Road Traffic 23,407 2,241
Construction 70 70
Vegetation -5 0
Totals 15,721 3,476
Contact Information
Name
Dan Fairbanks
Agency Name
March Joint Powers Authority
Job Title
Planning Director
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Email
Location
Cities
Riverside
Counties
Riverside
Regions
Southern California
Cross Streets
22765 Cactus Ave, Moreno Valley, California 92553 Located south of Cactus Avenue
Zip
92553
Total Acres
35.4-acre
Jobs
26
State Highways
Interstate 215
Railways
BNSF
Airports
March ARB/March Inland Port
Waterways
None
Base
March AR
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Other
Type, Section or Code
CEQA Guidelines Section 15061 (b)(3)
Reasons for Exemption
Under State CEQA Guidelines section 15061 (b)(3), “The activity is covered by the general rule that CEQA applies only to projects which have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment. Where it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment, the activity is not subject to CEQA.” In this case, the proposed modifications allow an interim deferral of a solar voltaic system based on substantial evidence that greenhouse gas emissions for the tenant/building will be approximately 22% of the forecast mitigated project emissions. Furthermore, the requirement for the solar voltaic system is not eliminated but is simply delayed for up to five (5) years, or until the building is occupied by a different tenant. The changes in greenhouse gas emissions are attributable to the 33,000 square foot reduction in building size, the reduced number of employees, and the reduced employee vehicle trips and truck trips. Because the request results in significantly reduced greenhouse gas emissions, the proposed modifications do not have the potential for causing any new significant effect to the environment which was not previously analyzed in the comprehensive Final Environmental Impact Report for Plot Plan 18-04. The Planning Director finds the proposed project is a minor alteration to a previously approved Plot Plan and the approved mitigation measures, with no direct changes to the building or site area, beyond the reductions previously cited.
County Clerk
Riverside
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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