Menifee Council continues Northern Gateway Ethanac Barnett Warehouse hearing

Tony Ault

Staff Writer

Before making a decision to continue a public hearing on the plot plan for a major warehouse off Ethanac Road, Menifee City Council heard an attorney for the city of Perris voice the neighboring city’s objection to the warehouse at the Wednesday, May 3, meeting.

The Ethanac and Barnett Warehouse project was given approval some time ago by the Menifee City Planning Commission with a favorable plot plan including landscaping, traffic control and design standards.

Attorney John Fox from the law firm of Aleshire & Wynder LLP, representing the city of Perris, appeared at the public hearing to forward that city’s disapproval of the project with its potential of further creating more traffic on Highway 74 that borders the Perris city boundary. Referring to an appeal to Menifee by the neighboring city, Fox said Perris saw a problem with the environmental report for the warehouse, although helpful, did not resolve the city’s objections. The appeal argued, “This project will result in a significant impact to the environment that requires the preparation of an environmental impact report. Specifically in the areas of noise, frequency of greenhouse gas emissions and traffic.”

In regard to traffic, Perris argued that the project will result in a significant safety impact due to the introduction of heavy truck traffic at the intersection of Ethanac and Barnett roads on Highway 74 next to Perris. While Menifee has promised to help mitigate any problems at the intersection, Perris argued there is no guarantee it will resolve the environmental problem without further study by the Menifee Planning Commission.

Following the statement by Fox, the council voted 4 to 1, with no comment, to continue the public hearing and further discussion at the Wednesday, June 7, meeting with Council Member Ricky Estrada casting the only “no” vote.

The council, following another public hearing, added $527,847 to the 2024 Community Development Block Grant Program’s annual action plan, naming seven local nonprofit organizations to receive a portion of the grant.

The organizations that will benefit and the amounts of their grant portion include the Assistance League of Temecula Valley, $10,000; The Boys & Girls Club of Menifee Valley, $11,000; Habitat for Humanity, $11,000; Hospice of the Valleys, $10,000; Menifee Mustangs Track & Field Club, $10.000; Menifee Valley Community Cupboard, $17,177, and SAFE Family Justice Centers, $10,000 for a total of $79,177 or 15% of the annual federal grant to benefit low to moderate income families in the community. The other part of the grant monies will be used to resurface streets in the Romoland area of the city and for administration costs as is allowed by the grant.

In a follow up, the council approved the CDBG amendment grant increase during the COVID-19 pandemic totaling $50,000 to be redesignated from providing mortgage assistance for low income families, to helping to assist the homeless population to find homes.

In a consent item, the council said it was pleased to learn that an initial bid not to exceed $140,000 for a refrigerated truck for Community Pantry use would actually be purchased at a cost of $121,577.50. The savings resulted in purchasing the truck, a new