2.5 Million Sq. Ft. Cherry Valley Industrial Complex Would Employ Thousands, Project Planner Says

A massive industrial complex proposed in Cherry Valley would create an estimated 2,000 construction jobs and another thousand full time positions once built, if the county approves the project, Banning-Beaumont Patch is told.

The I-10 Gateway project– which was recently reviewed in a public scoping session– encompasses the building of two structures totaling 2,560,000 total square feet, according to project documents.   

It would have enough space to accommodate more than 420 big rig trucks for loading purposes.  One building would run perpendicular to Cherry Valley Blvd., while the other would run parallel, plans indicate.  The first would be about 960,000 square feet, and the other 1.6 million.

According to a project planner with the company who wants to build the facility, Irvine-based Shopoff Group, builders do not yet have a tenant lined up, though there are many interested parties.

"There are a number prospective tenants looking for opportunities to bring new jobs to this area," Brian Rupp told Banning-Beaumont Patch.  "We are having discussions, but nothing formalized at this time."

Rupp says construction is anticipated to begin in 2015, if everything goes according to schedule.  Right now, the County of Riverside is reviewing three applications submitted by Shopoff that will advance the project: a zone change request, a parcel map and a plot plan, according to David Mares, principal planner with the county. 

"Based on a fiscal impact study prepared for the project, the I-10 Gateway project is anticipated to create over 1,000 permanent jobs and approximately 2,000 construction-related jobs through direct, indirect, and induced economic activity in the local community," Rupp said.

Rupp says the company chose Cherry Valley as a location for their construction site not only because of the convenient location to Interstate 10, but because of "a great economic outlook" that the Pass region has.

Addressing concerns from the public about a potential eyesore on the region, Rupp says that both the buildings and parking areas would be screened with "native landscaping, berms and a 200-foot landscaped soft-bottom drainage channel."

Approximately 30 percent, or 70 acres, of the project site would also be preserved as open space.  160 acres would be developed, he said.

Why Now?

Rupp said that the project is now advancing after having been stalled because of the down economy the last few years.

"As you know, we have all endured the Great Recession, but now that the economy is coming back and new jobs are being created we think now is the time to move the project forward and bring those new jobs to this region," he said.

This project first came to the county's attention in 2009 when a "general plan amendment" was first submitted, according to Mares.  The three supplemental applications were submitted April 1 of this year, he said, adding that those are now in for internal review.  An environmental impact report is also pending, before the project can advance.

Public Concern

Not everyone is as excited for the project as Rupp's company, as local residents voiced concerns at the April 22 scoping session.

According to Mares, about a dozen people showed up to the meeting to learn more.  Only three people spoke, though, and one of their major concerns was the amount of traffic this may bring to Cherry Valley Boulevard. 

"One speaker was a neighbor and raised concerns about the rural area," he told Patch.  "She raised concerns with regards to traffic... water quality."

Her concerns, along with others collected, will all go into the environmental impact report, Mares said.  

If you'd like to add any of your concerns about the project to the EIR, you can pass them on to Paul Rull at 951-955-0972 or prull@rctlma.org.  You can also send written correspondences to the Riverside County Planning Department, attention Paul Rull, at: P.O. Box 1409, Riverside, CA, 92502.