CITY OF MENIFEE
SUBJECT: Trumble and Watson Warehouse Appeals
MEETING DATE: July 15, 2026
TO: Mayor and City Council
PREPARED BY: Russell Brown, Senior Planner
REVIEWED BY: Orlando Hernandez, Community Development Director APPROVED BY: Armando G. Villa, City Manager
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RECOMMENDED ACTION
1. Adopt a resolution denying Appeal No. PLN26-0081 submitted by the Supporters Alliance for Environmental Responsibility (SAFER), Appeal No. PLN26-0085 submitted by the Golden State Environmental Justice Alliance (GSEJA) and Appeal No. PLN26-0086 submitted by Mayor Ricky Estrada; and
2. Adopt a resolution adopting an Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration (State Clearinghouse No. 2025100303) for the Trumble and Watson Warehouse (Project), based on the findings incorporated in the Initial Study and the conclusion that the Project will not have a significant effect on the environment and direct staff to file a Notice of Determination; and
3. Adopt a resolution approving Plot Plan No. PLN22-0190 for the Project, generally located south of Watson Road, north of Ethanac Road, east of Interstate 215 and Trumble Road and west of Sherman Road.
DISCUSSION
On May 13, 2026, the Planning Commission held a duly noticed public hearing and voted 4-1 (Commissioner Ramirez against) to approve PP No. PLN22-0190 along with the related environmental analysis. On May 20, 2026, the City received an application from Mayor Estrada to appeal the Planning Commission decision on the Project. Two additional appeal applications were received from GSEJA and SAFER on May 21, 2026.
Plot Plan (PP) No. PLN22-0190 Trumble and Watson Warehouse proposes a 328,227 square- foot speculative warehouse building (inclusive of 15,000 square feet of office space) along with 33 dock-high doors. The Project consists of 126 trailer parking spaces and 296 automobile parking spaces (totaling 422 spaces). The Project site is a 17.19-acre relatively flat, vacant site
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near the southeast corner of Watson Road and Trumble Road (formerly known as the Trumble Pit Site).
Location
The Project site is south of Watson Road, north of Ethanac Road, west of Sherman Road and east of I-215 along the east side of Trumble Road. The site consists of four parcels: APN 329- 240-046, 329-240-048, 329-240-049 & 329-240-051.
IMAGE 1 – PROJECT LOCATION
General Plan/Zone
The General Plan land use and zoning designation(s) for the Project site is 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. The approval of a Plot Plan application is required for a warehouse building in the EDC- NG zone. The proposed Project/use is consistent with the underlying zoning and allowable use table.
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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.
IMAGE 2- GENERAL PLAN/ZONING MAP
West of the Project site, across Trumble Road, is the City of Perris and the Community Commercial and Light Industrial zoning designations per 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. At the request of the City, the Project 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.
Project Description
The Project site, formerly known as the Trumble Pit Site (or Trumble Road Open Pit), was originally operated as an open pit mine and soil hauling (import and export) facility and has, most
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recently, been used as a soil and concrete recycling area. The former open pit was subject to rough grading and restoration between 2019 and 2023. The pit restoration involved 5,000 cubic yards (cy) of cut and 207,000 cy of fill import to fill the pit and level the site. As a result of the proposed warehouse, approximately 29,623 cy of cut strictly related to building stability and building pads is proposed.
The Project Applicant is proposing a 328,227 square-foot speculative warehouse building (inclusive of 15,000 square feet of office space) along with 33 dock-high doors. The Project consists of 126 trailer parking spaces and 296 automobile parking spaces (totaling 422 spaces).
IMAGE 3 – PROPOSED SITE PLAN
City of Menifee Staff Report
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Appeal No. PLN26-0085
On May 21, 2026, GSEJA filed an appeal of the Planning Commission’s May 13, 2026 approval of PP No. PLN22-0190, asserting that the Planning Commission erred in approving the Project.
Specifically, GSEJA contends that the City failed to evaluate the entire scope of development associated with the site and instead improperly segmented environmental review, commonly referred to as “piecemealing.” GSEJA notes that previous Mitigated Negative Declarations (MNDs) were approved for activities associated with filling the existing pit and restoring the site to grades consistent with the surrounding topography.
Staff disagrees with this assertion. Under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), improper piecemealing does not occur when projects have different applicants, serve distinct purposes, or are capable of independent implementation. As recognized in Banning Ranch Conservancy v. City of Newport Beach (2012), separate projects may be evaluated independently when they are not interdependent components of a single undertaking. The previous approvals addressed grading and site restoration activities, whereas the current Project involves a separate land use proposal subject to its own environmental review and discretionary approvals.
Accordingly, City staff finds that the environmental analysis prepared for the Project complies with CEQA and does not constitute improper piecemealing.
GSEJA also contends that the Planning Commission erred in determining that the Project would not result in significant impacts to an already pollution-burdened community. In support of this claim, GSEJA submitted information regarding regional pollution levels and public health indicators within the City of Menifee. While the information highlights broader environmental and health concerns within the region, the environmental analysis prepared for the Project specifically evaluated the Project’s potential air quality impacts in accordance with CEQA requirements and applicable South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) methodologies.
As documented in the Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS/MND), the Project would not generate significant and unavoidable air quality impacts. Construction and operational emissions were evaluated and found to be below applicable significance thresholds, and localized air quality impacts to nearby sensitive receptors were determined to be less than significant.
Based on the evidence contained in the administrative record, staff concludes that the Project would not result in significant adverse air quality impacts to surrounding residents and that the Planning Commission’s findings are supported by substantial evidence.
The GSEJA appeal letter states that the Project Description is incomplete and inadequate.
However, this is incorrect, as the required materials have been made available for public review.
Furthermore, the appeal letter inaccurately claims that a reduction in housing occurs if the Project is approved via Senate Bill (SB) 8. However, the site has a land use/zoning designation of EDC and not residential, and therefore is aligned with the General Plan and zoning code.
Both the November 5, 2025 comment letter, received during the official public review period for the MND and the May 21, 2026 appeal letter for the Project contained concerns from GSEJA regarding piecemealing, air quality, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, transportation and Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT), land use and planning, and population and housing. Staff and the City’s CEQA consultant reviewed the claims presented by GSEJA and have determined that the Draft City of Menifee Staff Report
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and Final MND adequately addresses the concerns raised and no further CEQA analysis is warranted.
Appeal No. PLN26-0081
SAFER filed an appeal of the Planning Commission’s decision/approval of the Project on May 21, 2026 requesting that an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) be prepared for the Project rather than the MND. As indicated in the staff report and throughout the various technical studies, the Project will not have a significant effect on the environment and therefore an EIR is not required.
Additional analysis or arguments have not been provided by SAFER, nor did they provide written comments on the MND during the official public review period (October 8, 2025 to November 6, 2025).
Appeal No. PLN26-0086
Mayor Estrada filed an appeal of the Planning Commission’s decision/approval on May 20, 2026 stating that the Project should be reviewed by the City Council due to the nature of the Project.
This request has been satisfied via the appeal process and the July 15, 2026 public hearing.
Environmental Determination
The Planning Commission adopted Resolution No. PC26-686 adopting an IS/MND on May 13, 2026 determining that the Project will have no significant effect on the environment with incorporation of standard conditions of approval and mitigation measures (as listed in the IS/MND). A Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Plan (MMRP) was prepared and identifies all mitigation measures that will be required for the Project. Following the Project’s approval, a Notice of Determination (NOD) was filed with the Riverside County Clerk’s office on May 14, 2026.
The IS/MND, as well as all its technical appendices, can be accessed for review on the City website: https://www.cityofmenifee.us/325/Environmental-Notices-Documents.
Findings
Findings for the denial of the Appeals and adoption and approval of the IS/MND and PP No.
PLN22-0190 are included in the attached Resolutions.
Public Notice
The proposed Project was noticed on July 5, 2026 for the July 15, 2026 City Council public hearing. A public notice was published in The Press Enterprise and notices were mailed to property owners and non-owner residents within a 450-foot radius of the Project site. The proper public notice was posted on-site, and in addition, all relevant public agencies and those requesting notification were notified of the public hearing.
STRATEGIC PLAN OBJECTIVE
Thriving Economy
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with the recommended action.
City of Menifee Staff Report
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ATTACHMENTS
1. Project Exhibits
2. Resolution – Appeals
3. Exhibit A – Appeal Applications
4. Exhibit B – City Responses
5. Resolution – IS/MND
6. Exhibit A – Draft IS/MND
7. Exhibit B – Draft IS/MND Appendices
8. Exhibit C – Final IS/MND
9. Exhibit D - Final IS/MND Appendices
10. Exhibit E - MMRP
11. Resolution - Entitlement
12. Exhibit A – Conditions of Approval
13. May 20, 2026 Planning Commission Staff Report
14. Public Hearing Notice