SCH Number 2022020501

Project Info

Title

Frito-Lay, Inc.

Description

Project Description: (please use a separate page if necessary) This is a request for a variance to the Industrial (M) zoning district height limit. The project proposes to expand the current Frito-Lay facility by constructing a 62,000± square-foot manufacturing building, 27,000± square-foot warehouse building, silos (one to be utilized for corn storage and one for cornmeal storage), and site improvements consisting of the following: a second rail branch; new solar photovoltaic carport; 14 vehicle charging stations for employees; a publicly available compressed natural gas fueling station; and a near zero emission and zero emission on and off-road fleet upgrades to increase the production capacity and reduce the need to import packaged snack food products from other plants. The proposed expansion will also include the addition of a new snack food production line for Onion Fried Snack (OFS) production, and the addition of a cornmeal receiving, storage, and handling system. The number of employees is anticipated to increase by 206 as part of this project; increasing the number of employees to 486 during a maximum shift. The corn and cornmeal silos will be 85± feet tall; as unmanned fireproof structures the silos are considered to be permitted uses in the Industrial (M) zoning district and are not subject to a height limit pursuant to §21.60.040(B) of the County Zoning Ordinance. The proposed 62,000± square-foot manufacturing building will be 46 feet tall. The 27,000± square-foot warehouse is proposed to be 92 feet tall with an HVAC unit at the top bringing the total height to 97 feet tall; the warehouse will be composed of one floor, and a mezzanine. County Zoning Ordinance §21.60.040(A) requires building and appurtenant structures not to exceed 75 feet in height in the Industrial (M) zoning district. The additional height of the building is needed to accommodate construction of a three-crane automated storage and pallet retrieval system for bulk materials transported by truck and rail. The automated crane system will operate from the ground level and the first floor and mezzanine of the proposed warehouse will be manned daily, with up to four employees to oversee the crane system and operate forklifts from ground levels. The proposed warehouse and expansion will be located at an existing snack manufacturing facility on a 71.35± acre parcel in the Industrial (M) zoning district within the LAFCO adopted Sphere of Influence for the City of Modesto. The site is currently served with public sewer and water facilities by the City of Modesto. The site has access to County-maintained Garner Road and Leckron Road. The expansion of the facility is a permitted use in the Industrial (M) zoning district; however, the environmental review will cover the entire expansion request for the purpose of allowing Frito-Lay, Inc. to obtain Air District permits which require CEQA review for the expansion of the manufacturing and packaging operations for the new OFS production line. The Planning Commission will consider the variance for the additional height of the proposed 97-foot-tall warehouse building, and the CEQA review for the entire project.

3 documents in project