D e. v. e l o p m e n t S e r v i c e s D e p a r t m e n t Planning Division I Development Processing
CITY OF
CHULA VISTA
Appeal the decision of the:
zoning Administrator
PlanningCommission
Application Information
RECEIVED
CHULA VISTA CITY CUEr%K
2022EE623 P U: 20
APPEAL APPLICATION FORM
STAFF USE ONLY
Date Received:
Fee:
Receipt #
Case It
Nameof Appellant SalvadorAbrica Phone ( 619) 977-0025
Address 1310W. Don Street, Wilmington, CA90744
BusinessAddress4666MissionGorgePlace, SanDiego, CA 92120 ProjectAddressNWportionof the intersectionbetweenHeritageRoad & Energy Way within the CitayRanch Village 3 Business Park ProjectDescriptionHeritageindustrialCenter (DR21-0007andVAR21-0001, Applicant: RockefellerGroup) Example: variance, conditional use permit, design review, etc.) Pleaseuse the space below to provide a response to the decision you are appealing. Attach additional sheets, if necessary.
Grounds for an appeal must be based on at least one of the following:
1) Factual Error. The statements or evidence relied upon by the decision maker when approving, conditionally approving, or denying a permit, map, or other matter was inaccurate; 2) New Information. New information is available to the applicant or the Interested person that was not available through that person' s reasonable efforts or due diligence at the time of the decision; or 3) Findings Not Supported. The decision maker' s stated findings to approve, conditionally approve, or deny the permit, map, or other matter are not supported by the information provided to the decision maker.
In order for an appeal to be valid, detailed responses must be included which cite at least one of the above reasons for the appeal alongwith substantiationof the factsand circumstancesonwhichthe claimof theappealis based. If anappealisfiled within the time limit specified, and determined to be valid, it automaticallystays proceedings in the matter until a determination is made by the City Council.
Grounds for this appeal are based on 1) Factual Error, and ( 3) Findings Not Supported. Please see: 1) the attached written comments detailingthe groundsfor appeal, and 2) the letter dated Feb. 8, 2022submitted to the Chula Vista PlanningCommission, Appeal Form Directions
Pursuant to the Chula Vista Zoning Ordinance Chapter 19.14, an interested party may appeal the decision of the Zoning Administrator, or PlanningCommissionto the City Council. The appellant must be an interested party. An interested party meansa person who was present at a public hearing from which an appeal arose and who had filed a speaker slip with the decision maker at that public hearing, or a personwho expressedan interest in the project In writing to that decision maker before the Moseof the public hearing or adecision on anactionfrom whichan appealmaybe filed. Theappellant mustfile a completeappealapplication form within the specifiedappeal period (10businessdaysafter the decision has been made), complete tateDisclosureStatement, and pay the required fee. Oncea valid appeal form is filed, the appeal will be scheduled for a hearing by the City Council within 30 days.
Signature of Appellant Date, February22, 2022
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS SPACE
The above matter has been scheduled for public hearing before the: City Council On 1 1 loft 276 Fourth AvPnoe
Development Services Department City Clerk
APPEAL
I Chirla Vista California 1 91910 1 (6 19) 691. 5101 Rev 5. 14 APPEAL APPLICATION FORM:
Pleaseusethe spacebelow to providea responseto the decisionyou areappealing. Attachadditional sheets, if necessary. Groundsfor anappealmustbe basedon at leastone of the following:
1) FactualError. Thestatements or evidencerelied upon by the decision makerwhen approving, conditionally approving, or denying a permit, map, or other matter was inaccurate; 2) New Information. New information is available to the applicant or the Interested person that was not available through that person' s reasonable efforts or due diligence at the time of the decision; or 3) FindingsNotSupported. Thedecisionmaker'sstatedfindingsto approve, conditionallyapprove, or deny the permit, map, or other matter are notsupported by the information provided to the decision maker.
In order for an appeal to be valid, detailed responsesmust be included which cite at least one of the above reasons for the appeal along with substantiation of the facts and circumstances on which the claim of the appeal is based. If an appealis filed within the time limit specified, anddeterminedto bevalid, it automaticallystaysproceedingsin the matter until a determination is made by the City Council.
Grounds for this appeal are based on ( 1) Factual Error, and ( 3) Findings Not Supported The arguments in this appeal are also stated in a letter dated Feb. 8, 2022 that was submitted to the Chula Vista Planning Commission. That letter is also attached to this appeal.
The Project Should Go Through CEOA Review — But Was Wrongly Exempted Due to Inaccurate Information The HeritageIndustrial Centerproject received2 approvalsduring apublic hearingat the Feb. 9, 2022 Planning Commissionmeeting: 1) a resolutionapprovingdesignreview, and2) anotherresolutionapprovinga heightvariance.
TheprojectshouldhavegonethroughreviewundertheCaliforniaEnvironmentalQualityAct (CEQA). TheDirectorof DevelopmentServicesexempted it from CEQAreviewon the basisthat a pre-existingFinalEnvironmentalImpact Report FEIR) wassufficient. That FEIR— prepared for the Otay RanchUniversity Villages Project Comprehensive SPAPlan AmendmentandcertifiedbyCityCouncilonDecember2, 2014—isat least7 yearsold. It isalsofor a primarily residential project, whereas the Heritage Industrial Center is primarily an industrial project. There is not even mention of any warehouse usage in the FOR.
TheletterdatedFeb. 8, 2022alsonotesthesignificantlikelihoodthatthisprojectwill beanAmazonlastmiledelivery station, givenseveralfactors. Thispossibilityis not accountedfor in the FEIR, which waswritten in 2013 or earlier — a timewhenlastmiledeliverystationswerevirtuallynon-existent. AsnotedintheFeb. 8, 2022letter, alastmiledelivery station hasimpactsthat gofar beyondits immediatevicinitybecausedeliveryvehicleswill makehundredsor thousands of daily trips into residential neighborhoods, spreadingpollution, traffic, noise and other impacts. The FEIR, written in 2013, does not addressthis possibility. Therefore, this project warrants a new traffic study — the traffic analysisin an FEIRwritten In2013 or earlier cannot accuratelyaccountfor such lastmile facilities.
The evidence (the FEIR) relied upon by the decision -maker was inaccurate in realistically assessingthe Heritage Industrial Center' senvironmental impacts In addition the decision -maker'sfindings to approve the proiect are not supported by the information provided to it given the inadequacy of using a 7 -year-old FEIRfor a residential proiect to approve this industrial proiect this year.
This Project May Not Create Good lobs: The PlanningCommissionStaff Report notes that " industrial useswithin Village 3 are intendedto providefor a high-quality working environmentand to achievea harmoniousmixtureof land uses.
Activities are intended to promote employment opportunities in manufacturing, service, research and development, engineering, andwholesaletrade." Inthe eventthat this isanAmazonfacility, future employeesmaynot seethe "high quality working environment" that city leaders envision for Village 3. The letter dated Feb. 8, 2022 details the negative impacts (on wages, health & safety, employee retention, etc.) that are typical of Amazon jobs. Until the ultimate employerisknown, it isimpossibleforthePlanningCommissionto guarantee "ahigh-qualityworkingenvironment' forfuture employees of the Heritage Industrial Center.
Pleaseseethe attachedletter datedFeb. 8, 2022for amoredetaileddiscussionof all of these, andother, issues.
Jaime Vasquez
Sec retar) r-Tress w-er
Phillip Farias
President
Cliff Cunningham
Vice -President
Dwayne Garrett
Recording Secrernr},
Curt Olson
Trustee
Lynda Linville
Trustee
Don Mack
Ti-usree
TEAMSTERS, CHAUFFEURS,
WAREHOUSEMENANDHELPERS
LOCALUNIONNo. 542
San Diego and Imperial Counties, California
and the City of Yuma, Arizona
Affiliated with
INTERNATIONALBROTHERHOODOf TEAMSTERS
February 8, 2022
Sent to: Ms. Genevieve Hernandez, Senior Planner, Development Services Rhernandez@chulavistaca( 619) 691- 52.55
Chula Vista Planning Commission
City of ChulaVista
276 Fourth Avenue
Chula Vista, CA 91910
RE: CASE NUMBER: DR21- 0007 and VAR21- 0001
APPLICANT: Rockefeller Group
SITE ADDRESS: Northwestern portion of the intersection
between Heritage Road and Energy Way
within the Otay Ranch Village 3 Business
Park ( see map)
PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The Applicant is requesting approval of a 201, 200 square -foot development consisting of three industrial shell buildings for warehouse/ office/ ecommerce use. The proposed Project is located on an existing, previously graded, vacant 11.6 -acre site, consisting of three separate parcels. The site is within the Otay Ranch Village 3 Business Park, zoned Industrial ( 1), with a General Plan Designation of Limited Industrial ( IL). The project Is known as Heritage Industrial Center.
RECOMMENDED ACTIONS: Conduct a public hearing and adopt Resolution No. DR21-OD07approving the Design Review for the project; and Resolution No, VAR21- 0001 for a Variance to allow an increase in height for a portion of the proposed retaining wall, based on findings and subject to conditions contained therein,
Dear Chair Zaker and Members of the Chula Vista Planning Commission; These comments are being submitted on behalf of Teamsters Local 542 for the Planning Commission} hearing concerning the " Heritage Industrial Center." We reserve the right to clarify and supplement these comments aspermitted by law and do not waive any issueor matter omitted herein as a result of error or omission by the City of ChulaVista or the Applicant, to the extent permitted by law.
SAN DIEGO OFFICE: 4665 MISSION GORGE PLACE, SAN DIEGO, CA 92120 - ( 619) 582- 0542 P. O. BOX 600507 • SAN DIEGO, CA 92160 - FAX( 619) 582- 0059 EL CENTRO OFFICE: 2298 MERRILL CENTER DRIVE, EL CENTRO, CA 92243 - ( 760) 352- 6571 om" s
THE UNE P PPT =
ChulaVista Planning Commission
TeamstersLocal542representsover6,000warehouse, logistics, delivery, truckingandotherworkersinSan DiegoCounty. OurmembersliveandworkinChulaVista, includingat RepublicServicesat881EnergyWay, whichdirectlybordersthewesternedgeoftheproposedproject. Asbothresidentsandworkers, theymay beadverselyaffectedbythepotentialtraffic, airquality, noise, publichealth, andotherimpactscausedbythe project.
Weurgethe PlanningCommissionto refrainfromapprovingthis projectunlessanduntilcommunity members have greater ability to weigh in on the project, which should include full CEQAreview that accurately and thoroughly analyzes the environmental impacts of this project, Basic Description:
City documents describe the project:
Notice of Public Hearing: The Applicant is requestingapproval of a 201,200 square -foot development consisting of three industrial shell buildingsfor warehouse/office/ecommerce use. TheproposedProjectislocatedonanexisting, previouslygraded, vacant11.6 -acresite, consistingof three separateparcels. Thesite iswithin the Otay RanchVillage3 BusinessPark, zoned Industrial ( I), with a General Plan Designation of Limited Industrial ( IL). The project is known as Heritage Industrial Center.
Planning Commission Staff Report: The proposed project includes three industrial shell buildingsfor officeandstorage/warehouse/ecommerceuses, anoutdoorseatingareafor employees, and landscapeimprovements. Thethree industrial shellbuildingsarecomprised of, BuildingAwith104,900sqwarefeetand132parkingspaces, BuildingBwith55,700square feetand92parkingspacesandBuildingCwith40,600squarefeetand63parkingspaces.
This Project Is Likely to Be, An Amazon Last Mile Delivery Station:
PlanningDepartmentdocumentsindicatethat thereiscurrentlyno knownenduser(s) or tenant(s) for the project. Despitethis, it seemslikelythat the projectwill be1or mareAmazonlastmiledeliverystations:
The 3 industrial buildings contained in the project fit the parameters of a typical Amazon last mile deliverystation (approximately100,000sq. ft. ofwarehousespaceorless, locatedwithinadenselypopulated urban area, etc.), Amazon Isnow the largest singledeveloper of warehousesand logistics €acilitles in the United States, Amazon hasbuilt about 500 last mile delivery stations since 2014. It plans to open at least another 250lastmiledeliverystationsintheU.S. overthenext2yearsandreportedlyplanstohaveanetwork of 1,500 such facilities.)
The Applicant — the Rockefeller Group — hasa significantpre-existingrelationshipwith Amazon:
0 InSeptemberof lastyear, theRockefellerGroupsignedAmazonasthetenantoftheAirwayIndustrial Park in Otay Mesaz, the company' s first development in the south San Diego industrial market. 3 10Edison in Edison, NJ was leased to Amazon last year while it was still under construction. The RockefellerGroup and KSSArchitects "worked seamlesslywith Amazon's businesses, construction 1https:jI.www,fr lightwaves.com/news/amazon-ta-bianket_the-burbs-with-Iots_of-delivery-stations ahttps:lfkidder.com w- contentLupfpads/,{Market report/industria!-market-research-san-diega-2021-3a pdfa p-id rebusinessonline. com/ rockefelier- group.- breaks; gr " d•on•1356a:sf-alrwavindustrial-Park-ir_otay-mesa-catiforni/ SAN DIEGO OFFICE: 4666 MISSION GORGE PLACE, SAN DIEGO, CA 92120 • i619) 582. 0542 P.D. BOX 600507 • SAN DIEGO, CA 92160 - FAX ( 879) 582. 0059 EL CENTRO OFFICE: 2298 MERRILL CENTER DRIVE, EL CENTRO, CA 92243 • ( 760) 352. 6571 020
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ChulaVista Planning Commission
group, roboticsgroup, startupteam, andotherconsultantsto integratetheongoingbuildingshell construction efforts with Amazon's program to tailor the final project executionto Amazon's specifications. Atightschedulerequiredclosecollaborationfromprogrammingto design, andinthe field. Standardizedcomponentswereadaptedandcustomizedto satisfyexpectationswhile maintainingtheuniqueshelldesign, theconstructionofwhichwaswellunderwayuponengagement withAmazon. A truespec -to -suitdevelopment, theprojectstandsasa modelforthetypology, exemplifyingthevalueoflocaldesignvisionblendedwiththeprojectmanagementofaglobalentitywith well- defined program requirements."' Last year, Amazonalso signed a leasefor a 400,000 -square -foot distribution center under constructionat65BaekelandAvenueinMiddlesexBoroughthatispartoftheRockefellerGroupLogistics Center.' The RockefellerGroup partneredwith the MeridianGroup on Phase1 of The Boro mixed-use developmentin Tysons, VA. In 2017, TheBarowassubmitted "as a prospectfor Seattle -based Amazon. com Inc.' s second headquarters,"'
Also In 2017, the RockefellerGroup's then CEG & Co -PresidentDanielRashinwasa signatoryof a letterurgingAmazonto buildits HQ2projectinNewYorkCity.
Thelikelihoodthatthis projectwill bean Amazonlastmiledeliverystationissignificant: lastmilefacilities generate significantly more traffic and other impacts than other warehouse types. The nature of last mile facilities — whicharethestartingpointof hundredsof dailydeliveriesintosurroundingcommunities — also meansthat suchimpactstravel far beyondthe actualfacility site.
The Project Should Go Through CE9A Review:
Despitethe possibilityof significantenvironmentalimpactsposedbye -commerce -relatedlastmitefacilities, the Noticeof PublicHearingarguesthat this project shouldnot gothrough CEQAreview:
The Director of DevelopmentServiceshasreviewedthe proposedproject for compliance with the CaliforniaEnvironmentalQualityAct (CEQA) andhasdeterminedthat the proposed Project was adequatelycovered in previouslycertified FinalEnvironmentalImpact Report FEIR13-01) (SchNo #2013071077) preparedfor theCitayRanchUniversityVillagesProject ComprehensiveSPAPlanAmendmentandcertifiedbyCltyCouncilon December2, 2014.
Thus, no further environmental review is required.
The Final Environmental Impact Report (" FEIR") certified in 2014 should not be used to evaluate the project underreview. It isfocusedonafundamentallydifferenttypeof project. TheOtayRanchUniversityVillages Projectwasprimarilya residentialdevelopmentof 6,897dwellingunits, withotherusesmostlyservicingthose residences. In contrast, " industrial" usesaccountedfor only 2% of that project' s acreage .7 The FEIR containsvirtuallynodiscussionof the industrialcomponentandonly in regardsto environmentalimpacts.
Thereisnomentionofanypotentiale-commerceorwarehouseusage. Thisisnotsurprising, giventhatsuch e -commerce -relatedfacilitieswerevirtuallynon-existentin 2013whenthe FEIRwasbeingdrafted, By contrast, the Heritage Industrial Center is almost entirely an industrial, e -commerce -related warehouse project.
httgs://kssarchltectLkq—md,r+ itolour•work110edison•warehouse New JerseyindustrlaI market hits record -low avallablllty at 3.4%," Indian Real Estate News, July 15, 2021.
WhythisTysonsdevetopierwantstobeabletobuildmore, notlessofficespace," WashingtonBusinessJaurna1€01strictofColumblalOctober27, 2017. 7TheprotectIs1,374.7total acres, but anIV28.6acresIsdesignatedfor Industrialuse.
SAN DIEGO OFFICE: 4656 MISSION GORGE PLACE, SAN DIEGO, CA 92120 • ( 619) 582- 0542 P.O. BOX 600507 • SAN DIEGO. CA 92160 • FAX Mg) 582. 0059 EL CENTRO OFFICE: 2298 MERRILL CENTER DRIVE, EL CENTRO, CA 92243 • ( 760) 352. 6571 p9rRfl
Chula Vista Planning Commission
The FOR is well over 7 years old and will not reflect current conditions. The FEIR' s Notice of Preparation was completed on July 70, 2013, meaningthe document was being written In early 2013 and possiblyevenduring 2012 ( or before). Amazon, the major pioneer in last mile e-commerce, did not begin a serious effort to create Its last mile Infrastructure until the 2013 holiday seasonwhen Amazonwas unableto meet deliverytime promisesandmanyordersfailedto makeit to customersintimeforChristmas."BThismotivatedAmazonto invest heavily in building out its own last -mile delivery services. From 2014 to the first half of 2021, the number of last mile delivery stations grew from just 8 to almost 450. In 2015, Amazon launched Amazon PrimeNow and created58delivery hubsacrossthe USfor 1-2 hoursdeliveryand Amazonofficially launches its last mile delivery services with ' Amazon Logistics' in 2018." All of this likely happened after the FEIRwas written, so it cannot possibly account for environmental Impacts related to e-commerce facilities. And even If this project does not become an Amazon last mile facility, It will be an e-commerce facility for another company.
Unique Impacts of Lot Mile Delivery Stations:
A lestmilefacilityhasimpactsthat gofar beyonditsImmediatevicinity. Inthe possibleeventthat thisproject will be a last mile delivery station, traffic, noiseand pollution Impactswill be particularly acute becausethey will be spread by delivery vehicles that will travel through residential neighborhoods, bringing congestion, noise and pollutants closer to children, seniors and other " sensitive receptors." Delivery to consumers in neighborhoods means that trucks will be driving slowly and idling near homes, making frequent stops and starts, and otherwise emitting greenhousegasesand other particulates not only at the warehouse, but consistently throughout the day in residential areas that are otherwise not zoned to account for such emissions. Currently, however, there is noaccountingfor the wider Impactsinherent In last mile facilities.
ThisIssueIs especiallysalientfor this project, becauseit is closeto somany residentialand other locations where families will congregate. It is surrounded by hundredsof single-family residencessouth of Heritage Road, as well as current or future residential buildings:
1152 Camino de Vida (apartment building)
The Residences at Escaya
Brookfield Residential
The Village of Escaya
Lennar atthe Village of Escaya
Family-oriented businessesinclude:
Creative Little Minds WeeCare ( daycare)
III Escaya Village Center ( shopping mall)
There are also numerous recreational parks:
Borden Park
Avenida Palomino Park
Escaya Linear Park
Strata & Flora Park
Borden Park
Santa Maya Park
hnon/'lwwiv tlrYumrtlmialotl/ba6tllsfe.amelifiroramezam-sM1lmint.emluaon7 AhemB•A/lu I•w•rkxmm/ havi•m•mn.INe,•--' Y2sLMtltdeanxu•V•nllr<bNitin/ SAN DIEGO OFFICE: ACRE MISSION GORGE PLACE, SAN DIEGO, CA 92120 ( 619) 582-0542 P.O. BOX 800507 • SAN DIEGO, CA 92160 - FAX ( 519) 5820059 EL CENTRO OFFICE: 2298 MERRILL CENTER DRIVE, EL CENTRO, CA 92243 - ( 760) 352 6571 Owl
Chula Vista Planning Commission
Camino Aldea Park
The Residences Park
Escaya Dog Park
Urban planner Daniel Flaming, presidentof the EconomicRoundtable, a LosAngeles -basedresearchnon- profit that provides transparent, data -driven policy analysis, notes that last mile facilities have Several negative Impacts when situated near residential areas: " It would be horrific if you owned a home next to one of these distribution centers. All those loadedtrucks havesignificantroad wear issuesaswell ascongestion Issues, noise issues and pollution Issues." LD
This Prolect Merits a Now Traffic Study
The2014FEIR's trafficanalysisisinsufficientto assessane-commercefacility, andespeciallyAmazonlast mile facilities which are known to generate traffic problems. This was Illustrated in 2019-2020 at an Amazon last mile delivery station in Thousand Oaks:
In late March, officialsinThousandOaksscrutinizedAmazon'sfleet of deliveryvanson local roadwaysafter local residentsComplainedabout traffic congestion. Acrimony revolved around abottleneckof vehiclestryingto enter RexfordIndustrial -ownedConejoSpectrum Business Park in Newbury Park -- where Amazon established a presence in 2018 when it transformed a 55,000 -square -foot warehouse at 2405 Conejo Spectrum St. Into an Amazon Prime distribution center. Accordingto ThousandOaks CodeComplianceManagerGeoff Ware, who led an Investigationof Amazon'sdriving practicessincethe first complaint was filed in October, the backup hasworsened In the past few months "with the numeric value and types of traffic patterns involved with the Amazon location.... It was just an overload of vehicles trying to accessthe site."SL
Infact, lastmilefacilitiesgeneratesignificantlymoretrafficthantypicalwarehouses (long-term storage facilities), whichareclassifiedasCode150in the Institutefor TransportationEngineersTripGeneration Manual ( ITE). The trip -per-unit figures for Code 150 is 0.19. The figures for distribution - focused warehouses suchaslastmiledeliverystations), i.e., Codes155and156are1.37and0.64respectively. Theyrepresent significantlyhighertrip generationcharacteristicsrespectivelyof7+ timeslargerthan Code150and3+ times larger than Code 150.
In fact, last mile delivery stations and distribution centers are more often evaluated as " high -cube" warehouseswith significantlyhigher trip generation characteristics. Importantly, evenITELandUseCodes 155 and 156 are not typically treated as adequate, because of the unique nature of these e-commerce facilities. In other California localities, e-commerce applicants have conducted bespoke studies based on existing facilities In order to provide CECtA-compliant data for purposesof transportation analysis.
TheCityof ChulaVista needsto completea new traffic study, rather than rely on an FORwritten 9 yearsago that clearly doesnot accountfore -commercefacilities that aroseafter it waswritten.
SouthlandIogiSNGSJAmazonshiRingto the Andlane, Redlands6U.S. CensusBureau. TimeSeriesof CalHomlaInumensalPopulationEstimatesby County: April 1, 1990 to Ail 1, 2000.
11 'SPACEFORE.COMMERCE: WRhNe coNawimscdshencoungingonlineShopping, companuafromAmazon.comto bbl businessesareInMe marketForvrarehpuses(REALESTATEQUARTERLY: SPECIALREPORT); SanFernandoValleySuslnessJournal, April 27, 20M.
SAN DIEGO OFFICE: 4688 MISSION GORGE PLACE, SAN DIEGO, OA 92120 • ( 619) 582- 0542 P.O. BOX 600507 • SAN DIEGO, CA 92160 • FAX ( 619) 582- 0059 EL CENTRO OFFICE: 2298 MERRILL CENTER DRIVE, EL CENTRO, CA 92243 • ( 760) 3525571 ure. m
Chula Vista Planning Commission
Parkingimpacts:
Parking problems at Amazon facilities have been well documented:
Insufficientparkingspacesandthe highvolumeof lastmiledeliveryvansfarceworkersservicingthem to look for parkingoffsite, taking parkingspacesthat would otherwisebe usedby local residents.' Teamsters Union members and staff have observed these problems at numerous Amazon facilities.
The need to park offsite has led to conflicts with workers servicingAmazon warehouses:
n Several lawsuits filed againstAmazon's subcontracted van companies that list Amazonas a Joint employer have previously alleged violations of wage & hour laws becausethey were required to park and pick up their delivery vehicles offsite but Amazon did not compensate them for the time spenttravelingfromtheir offsiteparkinglocationsto their workplaces. a The issue was a central grievance that led to a 2019 walkout of workers in an Amazon warehouse in Minnesota."
Despitetheseproblems, theproposedprojectwillonlyinclude287parkingspaces — or1spaceperevery701 sq. ft. Thisstandsin contrastto otherAmazonlastmile projectscurrentlyunderdevelopment:
PROJECT LOCATION
Peabody, MA
SPACE PER SQ FT
1 space per 155 sq ft
PARKINCi SPACFS
1, 181
SQUARE FOCTAGF
183, 000
Westbury, NY 1 space per 169 sq ft 237 40, 113
Smithtown, NY 1 space per 207 sq ft 309 64, 000
Garden City, NY 1 space per 583 sq ft 175 102, 091
Chula Vista, CA 1 ce per 701 sqft 287 201, 200
This Pro ect May Not Create Good Jobs:
Aprimereasonforsupportingprojectssuchasthisoneistheprospectofjobsforlocalresidents. ThePlanning CommissionStaffReportnotesthat "industrialuseswithinVillage3areintendedto provideforahigh-quality working environment and to achieve a harmonious mixture of land uses.
Activitiesare intendedto promoteemploymentopportunitiesin manufacturing, service, researchand development, engineering, andwholesaletrade." ChulaVistaCityofficials, however, maybedisappointedin the type of jobs created, if this is an Amazon facility:
Negative Impact on Wages:
Accordingto Bureauof LaborStatisticsdatafor 68 countieswherea largeAmazonfacilitywas opened, the averagecompensationfor the industry declinedmore than 6% in the two years after opening. 14
A U.S. Government Accountability Office report from October 202015cited in several articles found that in the 9 states covered, more than 4,000 Amazon employees receive SNAPfood assistance.
Pre -pandemicresearchfoundthatwarehouseworkersinareaswithanAmazonfacilityearnedabout10% less than similar workers elsewhere." online Spendingto Hit a New Record," CBSNews Transcript, December2, 2019. sa "News Watch," Labor Notes, September 1, 2019.
Bloomberg. AmazonHasTurned a Middie-Cly; Warehouselab lnta,., cCareer. December 2020.
U.S. GovernmentAccountabilityOffice. Reportto the RankingMember, Committeeon the Budget, U.S. Senate. FEDERALSOCIALSAFETYNET PROGRAM5: Millions of Full -TimeWorkers Relyon FederalHealthCareand FoodAssistanceProgram, t , ao. o t a 21. 5 dF.
October 2020.
11TheEconomist, WhatAmazondoestowanes. January2038.
SAN DIEGO OFI ICL: 4666 MISSION GORGL PLACE, SAN DIEGO, CA 92120 • ( 619) 582- 0542 P.Q. BOX 600507 • SAN DIEGO, CA 92160 • FAX ( 619) 582- 0059 Et CENTRO OFFICE: 2298 MERRILL CENTER DRIVE, EL CENTRO, CA 92243 • ( 76M 352- 6571 7@r 24
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Chula Vista Planning Commission
Iniury Rates Associated with Amazon Facilities:
OSHAdata for 2020showsthat the seriousInjury rateat Amazonwarehouses -- meaning workers werehurt badlyenoughto missworkor beplacedon lightduty — was almost 80% higher than the entire warehousingindustry at 5.9 seriousinjuriesfor every100Amazonworkers." la Despite touting millions spent on safety, internal data show that Amazon leaders went to great lengthsto hideanongoing, andworsening, safetycrisisat companywarehousesacrossthe U.S.' Amazon Employment Churn:
Datashowsthat whenAmazonmovesintoacounty, turnoverratesfortheentirecountyskyrocket — in just 2 years, a new Amazonfacility increasesthe turnover rate for warehousingand storageemployeesan average of 30%. 2° InCalifornia, researchersfoundthat the averageturnoverratein "Amazon" countiesfor warehouse workers more than doubled in the years between 2011 and 2017, from 38. 1% to 100. 9%.21 Conclusion:
Forthe foregoingreasons, we respectfullyrequestthat the ChulaVistaPlanningCommissionrefrainfrom approving the project unless and until the community is allowed greater input into the project, and it goes through the CEQA process.
Sincerely,
Sal Abrica
Political Coordinator
Teamsters Local 542
TheWashingtonPost. Amazonwarehouseworkerssyffier11figusInjurlekgthikherratesthpnotherIIIrms. June2021, Strategic Organizing Center. Primed for PaIn- Amazon's EpIdemlt of Workplace Inlurles. May 2021.
I' Reveal. Haw Amaton HId Its $afety Crlsls. September 7020. 1 TheNewYorkTimes. InsideAMMn: 1ErnVMg) er}J Machine. June2021, National Employment Law Project. Amazon' s t]5posable Workers:_ High.ln,lury and Turnover Ratesat Fulollment Centers In California. March 2020, SAN DIEGO OFFICE: 4666 MISSION GORGE PLACE, SAN DIEGO, CA 92120 • ( 519) 582- 0542 P.O. BOX 600507 • SAN DIEGO, CA 92160 • FAX ( 619) 582- 0059 EL CENTRO OFFICE: 2298 MERRILL CENTER DRIVE, EL CENTRO, CA 82243 • ( 760) 352- 6571 azo
Disclosure Statement
Pursuantto CouncilPolicy101-01, priorto anyactionuponmattersthatwill requirediscretionaryactionbytheCouncil, PlanningCommissionandall otherofficialbodiesofthe City, a statementof disclosureof certainownershipor financial interests, payments, orcampaigncontributionsfora CityofChulaVistaelectionmustbefiled. Thefollowinginformationmust be disclosed:
1. Listthe namesof all personshavinga financialinterestin the propertythat is the subjectof the applicationorthe contract, e, g., owner, applicant, contractor, subcontractor, material supplier. 2, Ifany person" identifiedpursuantto (1) aboveisa corporationor partnership, listthenamesofall individualswith a $2000investmentinthe business (corporation/partnership) entity.
3. If anyperson' identifiedpursuantto (1) aboveis a non-profitorganizationor trust, listthenamesof anyperson servingas directorof the non-profitorganizationor astrusteeorbeneficiaryor trustorofthe trust.
4. Pleaseidentifyeveryperson, includinganyagents, employees, consultants, or independentcontractorsyouhave assigned to represent you before the City in this matter.
5. Hasanyperson" associatedwiththiscontracthadanyfinancialdealingswithan official` of theCityof ChulaVista as it relates to this contract within the past 12 months. Yes_ No If Yes, briefly describethe nature of the financial interestthe official" mayhave in this contract. 6, Haveyou made a contributionof morethan $250within the pasttwelve (12) monthsto a currentmemberof the Chula Vista City Council? No _ Yes _ If yes, which Council member? Haveyou providedmorethan $340 (or anitemof equivalentvalue) to anofficial" of the Cityof ChulaVistainthepast twelve ( 12) months? ( This includes being a source of income, money to retire a legal debt, gift, loan, etc.) Yes No
If Yes, which official" and what was the nature of item provided? Date: F7r; 13 Mart y d a . 20 -
of Contractor[ Applicant
Print or type name of ContractortApplicant
Person is defined as: any individual, firm, co -partnership, joint venture, association, social club, fraternal organization, corporation, estate, trust, receiver, syndicate, any other county, city, municipality, district, or other political subdivision, - or any other group or combination acting as a unit.
Official includes, but is not limitedto: Mayor, Council member, Chula Vista RedevelopmentCorporationmember, PlanningCommissioner, memberof a board, commission, or committeeofthe City, employee, or staff members.
September 8, 2006