The Sutter County Planning Commission voted unanimously 5-0 on August 19 to recommend approval for a minor amendment regarding a new warehouse project, according to the commission’s meeting minutes. The proposed facility, identified as Project U26-0012, is planned for construction on a 10-acre parcel located at 7234 Pacific Avenue, near Pleasant Grove. This significant development calls for a roughly 130,219-square-foot warehouse. PDC Norcal, LLC, is listed as the applicant for the project, with Holt of California identified as the owner of the site.
The commission’s recommendation came after staff presented their findings and advised the Board of Supervisors to approve both the administrative permit and the design-review amendment for the project. In its review, the project was determined to be exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act. This exemption was made under CEQA Guidelines sections 15302 and 15061(b)(3), as stated in the staff report and agenda packet.
The warehouse is intended to facilitate the relocation of an existing Holt operation. The project proposal indicates no increase in staffing or expansion of operations, and the facility is expected to continue employing its current 34 individuals. The applicant’s presentation outlined specific operating hours for the new facility, setting them from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, and from 7 a.m. to noon on Saturdays.
Regarding site logistics, the approved development plan specifies a minimum of 51 off-street parking spaces for the warehouse. This allocation includes 35 standard parking spaces, three accessible spaces, and 13 spaces specifically designated to meet electric-vehicle requirements. This number represents a reduction of 14 spaces, or approximately 21.5%, from the county’s standard calculation, which typically would require 65 off-street parking spaces for a warehouse of this size, according to the staff report. Furthermore, the agenda packet details that truck traffic and passenger-vehicle traffic will utilize separate driveways to manage flow. The project plans also explicitly state that no outdoor storage is proposed for the site.
A series of conditions are attached to the project’s advancement. These requirements mandate that the applicant dedicate additional right of way along Pacific Avenue, as well as establish a public-service easement. The applicant is also required to execute a Roadway Impact Fee Agreement before the commencement of commercial use at the site. A notable condition involves a fair-share contribution towards future traffic signal installations and associated intersection improvements at the intersection of Pacific Avenue and Riego Road. The applicant is responsible for contributing 20% of the cost for these improvements. However, the specific dollar amount of this contribution and its payment timing were not detailed in the reviewed materials.
Additional conditions outlined in the agenda packet address environmental and regulatory compliance. These include requirements for the approval of comprehensive drainage and grading plans, the implementation of onsite retention or detention facilities, and the establishment of stormwater pollution-prevention measures. The project must also adhere to all county and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) floodplain rules. The packet specifically notes that the northern portion of the site is situated within FEMA flood zones A and A99.
Following the Planning Commission’s recommendation, a Notice of Exemption was slated to be filed with the County Clerk within five working days. However, the Board of Supervisors’ minutes from August 25 do not indicate a final action on Project U26-0012. The ultimate status of the project before the Board of Supervisors will need to be confirmed through subsequent agendas, official minutes, or any potential appeal records.
