RESOLUTION NO. 26-____
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MENIFEE, CALIFORNIA APPROVING PLOT PLAN NO. PLN22-0190 FOR THE
CONSTRUCTION OF A 328,227 SQUARE FOOT SPECULATIVE
WAREHOUSE BUILDING “TRUMBLE AND WATSON WAREHOUSE”
WHEREAS, on July 28, 2022, the applicant, Ukiah Partners LLC (“Applicant”), filed a formal application with the City of Menifee for the approval of Plot Plan (PP) No. PLN22- 0190 for the construction of a speculative warehouse building totaling 328,227 square feet on approximately 17.19 acres. The Project site is south of Watson Road, north of Ethanac Road, west of Sherman Road and east of I-215 and Trumble Road (APN 329-240-046, - 048, -049 & -051); and
WHEREAS, collectively, all the applications are referred to as the “Project” or “Trumble Watson Warehouse Project”; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), an Initial Study (IS) and Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) have been prepared to analyze and mitigate the Project's potentially significant environmental impacts; and WHEREAS, between October 8, 2025 and November 6, 2025, the 30-day public review period for the Draft IS/MND took effect, which was publicly noticed by a publication in a newspaper of general circulation, notice posted on-site and sent to property owners within 450 feet of the Project site boundaries, related agencies and government agencies; and WHEREAS, on May 3, 2026, the Project was publicly noticed by a publication in The Press Enterprise, a newspaper of general circulation, an agenda posting, notices placed on the Project site, notice to property owners and non-owner residents within 450 feet of the Project boundaries, notice to all relevant agencies and to persons requesting notification; and
WHEREAS, on May 13, 2026, the Planning Commission of the City of Menifee held a public hearing and voted 4-1 to approve the Project, including all materials in the staff report and the MND; and
WHEREAS, on May 20, 2026, an application to appeal the Planning Commission’s decision on the Project, including the approval of PP No. PLN22-0190 was submitted by Mayor Estrada (PLN26-0086); and
WHEREAS, on May 21, 2026, an application to appeal the Planning Commission’s decision on the Project, including the approval of PP No. PLN22-0190 was submitted by the Golden State Environmental Justice Alliance (GSEJA) (PLN26-0085); and WHEREAS, on May 21, 2026, an application to appeal the Planning Commission’s decision on the Project, including the approval of PP No. PLN22-0190 was submitted by the Supporters Alliance for Environmental Responsibility (SAFER) (PLN26-0081); and WHEREAS, Conditions of Approval for PP No. PLN22-0190 have been prepared and attached hereto as Exhibit “A” of the resolution; and WHEREAS, on July 15, 2026, the City Council of the City of Menifee held a public hearing on the appeal of the Planning Commission’s decision and approval of PP No.
Trumble and Watson Warehouse – Plot Plan
July 15, 2026
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4 PLN22-0190, considered all public testimony as well as all materials in the staff report and accompanying documents for the appeal, which hearing was publicly noticed by a publication in The Press Enterprise, a newspaper of general circulation, an agenda posting, notice to property owners within 450 feet of the Project boundaries, on-site posting at the Project site, and to persons requesting public notice.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED the City Council of the City of Menifee makes the following findings:
Section 1: The City of Menifee City Council hereby makes the following findings for PP No. PLN22-0190 in accordance with Title 9, Article 2, Chapter 9.80.70, “Findings for Approval for Plot Plans” of the City of Menifee Development Code:
Finding 1 - The proposed design and location of the Plot Plan is consistent with the adopted General Plan and any applicable specific plan.
The Project site has a General Plan land use designation of Economic Development Corridor – Northern Gateway (EDC-NG) which is intended to provide economic vitality and flexibility in land use options to promote economic development along the City’s major corridors. All development and design standards of the City of Menifee Development Code have been uniformly applied to the entirety of the Project, and the Project is consistent with the General Plan.
In addition, the Project is consistent with the following City of Menifee General Plan policies:
LU-1.1: Concentrate growth in strategic locations to help preserve rural areas, create place and identity, provide infrastructure efficiently, and foster the use of transit options.
The proposed industrial Project is in close proximity to Ethanac Road and HWY 74, a designated truck route per the City’s General Plan.
Ethanac Road and HWY 74 directly connect to the I-215 freeway interchange. The location is well suited for industrial development to promote easily accessible routes for employees and delivery personnel and the location helps concentrate activity and development near the major transit corridors of the City as opposed to the rural areas or traveling through residential areas.
LU-1.5: Support development and land use patterns, where appropriate, that reduce reliance on the automobile and capitalize on multimodal transportation opportunities.
The Project’s infrastructure improvements include new roadways, roadway widening, intersection improvements, and sidewalks. The improvements will help promote multimodal transportation opportunities for employees and residents near the Project site.
CD-3.5 Design parking lots and structures to be functionally and visually integrated and connected; off-street parking lots should not dominate the street scene.
Trumble and Watson Warehouse – Plot Plan
July 15, 2026
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4 Perimeter landscaping have been provided to visually screen the parking lots, truck court, and drive aisles from surrounding roadways. ED-1.2: Diversify the local economy and create a balance of employment opportunities across skill and education levels, wages and salaries, and industries and occupations.
The proposed industrial Project will expand the local economy and provide increased employment opportunities for local residents. CD-3.12: Utilize differing but complementary forms of architectural styles and designs that incorporate representative characteristics of a given area.
The proposed Project utilizes industrial architecture which focuses on efficiency for processing goods and products. The building is designed to prioritize employee safety and functionality. Nonetheless, the building is still designed to meet the City’s Industrial Good Neighbor Policies, as well as City of Menifee Design Guidelines such as building form, roof form, massing and articulation, materials and colors, windows, doors, and entries.
CD-3.14 Provide variations in color, texture, materials, articulation, and architectural treatments. Avoid long expanses of blank, monotonous walls or fences.
The architecture of the Project incorporates varied colors, recesses, varied roof lines, wall plane changes, glazing, and other architectural treatments that break up wall areas to avoid long expanses of blank, monotonous walls. Screen walls have also been designed to incorporate architectural elements from the building for compatibility. Additionally, dense perimeter landscaping is proposed to reduce the visual height of the building and truck court walls from the public view and to provide a visually pleasing street scene.
Finding 2 - The proposed project meets all applicable standards for development and provisions of this title.
Per Section 9.80.020 “Applicability” of the Development Code, new construction of non-residential projects of more than 2,500 square feet of floor area requires the processing of a PP. The PP is for the site plan and architectural review for the construction of the warehouse building.
The proposed Project meets all applicable standards of development and operation of the City’s Zoning Code, including any applicable specific use regulations. The Project meets all the Development Code standards of Title 9, including but not limited to, parking requirements, setbacks, landscape coverage, floor area ratio (FAR) and height requirements of the EDC-NG zone. The design of the Project is consistent with the Industrial Good Neighbor Policies.
West of the Project site, across Trumble Road, is the City of Perris, and the Community Commercial and Light Industrial zoning designations per Trumble and Watson Warehouse – Plot Plan
July 15, 2026
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4 the City of Perris Municipal Code. Immediate surrounding General Plan Land Use designations within the City of Menifee are also EDC-NG, although, four existing non-conforming residential uses/properties are directly adjacent to the south of the Project site. The Applicant reached out to the adjacent residential property owners on numerous occasions between 2022 and 2023 to discuss the details of the Project. The Applicant made an effort to purchase the properties, however an agreement could not be reached. The proposed Project is consistent with surrounding land uses and land use designations and the intent of the EDC designation. The site is adequately suited for a warehouse building.
The proposed design and location of the PP meets all applicable standards of development and operation of the City’s Zoning Code, including any applicable specific use regulations.
Finding 3 - The establishment, maintenance, or operation of the proposed project will not be detrimental to the health, safety, or general welfare of persons residing or working in the neighborhood of such use or to the general welfare of the City.
To ensure the Project would not affect the general health, safety and/or welfare of the community, an IS/MND was prepared to analyze potential impacts to the surrounding persons residing or working in the community.
The IS/MND examined the Project including planning, construction and operation and determined potential impacts would all be less than significant with the mitigation measures. The proposed entitlements are not anticipated to create conditions materially detrimental to the public health, safety and general welfare or injurious to or incompatible with other properties or land uses in the Project vicinity.
In addition, the Project incorporates quality architecture and landscaping which will enhance the surrounding area. The Project has been reviewed by a variety of Departments to ensure compliance with applicable regulations, including, but not limited to City of Menifee Community Development, Engineering and Public Works, Office of the Fire Marshall, Police, Riverside County Environmental Health, Eastern Municipal Water District, Riverside County Flood Control District, California Department of Transportation, California Fish and Wildlife, and United States Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. Some of these Departments have provided conditions of approval as appropriate to ensure compliance with applicable regulations.
The City of Menifee has two active conservation plans within the City’s boundary, the Western Riverside County Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan (MSHCP), and the Stephen’s Kangaroo Rat Habitat Conservation Plan (SKR-HCP). The subject site is within the jurisdiction of the SKR-HCP and the Western Riverside County MSHCP. The Project site is located inside the SKR-HCP (Dipodomys stephensi) Fee Area. The proposed Project is located within the boundaries of the Western Riverside County MSHCP; however, the Project is not located within a Criteria Cell or Cell Group. The Project will be subject to the payment of fees consistent with Menifee Municipal Code Chapter 17.03 as adopted by the City of Menifee. Therefore, the Project will not conflict with the provisions of the Trumble and Watson Warehouse – Plot Plan
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4 adopted HCP, Natural Conservation Community Plan, or other approved local, regional, or state conservation plan and the impact is considered less than significant.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of Menifee hereby approves the following:
1. That the City Council determine that the “Findings” set out above are true and correct.
2. That the City Council determine the environmental review (IS/MND) has been completed for the Project in accordance with State and local laws, and CEQA guidelines.
3. That the City Council, pursuant to a separate Resolution, finds that the facts presented within the public record provide the basis to approve the IS/MND which has been completed for the Project.
4. That the City Council finds the facts presented within the public record and within the Resolution provide the basis to approve PP No. PLN22-0190, and that the City Council approve said entitlements.
5. The documents and materials that constitute the record of proceedings on which this Resolution has been based are located at the Community Development Department – Planning Division, 29844 Haun Road, Menifee, CA 92586. This information is provided in compliance with Public Resources Code section 21081.6.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this the 15th day of July 2026. _________________________
Ricky Estrada, Mayor
Attest:
Stephanie Roseen, City Clerk
Approved as to form:
Jeffery T. Melching, City Attorney