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The Moreno Valley Planning Commission has approved a mega-logistics project that its developer says will bring 20,000 jobs to the city.
In a 6-1 vote, the panel Tuesday gave World Logistics Center a solid endorsement, acknowledging its flaws but ultimately deciding that its long-term economic benefits outweigh any environmental concerns, particularly regarding truck traffic in and out of the project.
“These are not the old warehouse jobs that we’re used to seeing, where people just move boxes around,” said Commissioner Meli Van Natta, who cast one of the six votes in favor of the project. “These are skilled, high-tech jobs that pay very well, and they’re going to end up somewhere.
“If they aren’t in Moreno Valley they’ll be in Riverside or somewhere else, and people will still be traveling up and down the 60 Freeway.”
Van Natta’s remarks, which were met with loud cheers and applause from the project’s supporters, came at the end of third public hearing held by the commission on the World Logistics Center.
That project, which will be developed by Highland Fairview in Moreno Valley, will be located on the city’s east end and will cover 40.6 million square feet, roughly the size of 700 football fields.
During the second hearing last week, which was devoted entirely to public comment, many of the project’s opponents raised concerns about the traffic World Logistics Center will generate, an estimated 14,000 truck trips per day.
Several commissioners echoed those concerns and called for stronger mitigation measures that will reduce the traffic the project might generate during its 20 to 30-year buildout, and beyond.
But there would be more traffic created during that time if the city were to let regular development happen in the area where World Logistics Center will be built, Commission Chairman Brian Lowell said.
“Our ultimate goal should be to attract as many jobs as we can,” Lowell said at the end of the five-hour give-and-take between the commission and city staff. “Yes, there are some environmental problems associated with this project, but the economic benefits far outweigh those concerns.”
Iddo Benzeevi, president and chief executive officer of Highland Fairview, told the commission he was “humbled” by its approval and pledged to work with city’s best interests in mind.
“No one will work harder on Moreno Valley’s behalf than we will,” Benzeevi told the commission.
The lone dissent came from Commissioner Patricia Korzec, who said she fears that Moreno Valley is becoming a city dominated by warehouses.
“We have a city of warehouses, and now we’re going to add to that,” said Korzec, whose comments were met boos from the project’s backers. “What we’re doing is taking about one-tenth of the city and turning into an industrial park. I also think we should ask ourselves if these are the kind of jobs we want in Moreno Valley.”
The project must still go before the City Council. No date for that has been set, according to city staff.
