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Council OKs amendment letting Ashley site be phased or leased pending traffic review
Summary
The Lathrop City Council voted to amend the conditional use permit for the planned Ashley Furniture distribution center to allow phased construction, leasing of portions of the building, or reduced retail/office components, with a supplemental traffic analysis required for any new user prior to occupancy.
The Lathrop City Council on Wednesday adopted a resolution amending the conditional use permit for the Ashley Furniture project, allowing the developer flexibility to construct the approved 1,480,000-square-foot building in phases and to lease portions or the entirety of the structure to another qualified user, provided any new occupant does not increase the project's traffic impacts.
City planning staff said the amendment responds to economic uncertainty and financial constraints facing the applicant. Eric Cagat, director of community development, told council the amendment preserves required design elements while allowing the developer to "adapt to market conditions, reduce financial risk" and construct in phases.
Cagat said the building's total square footage will not exceed the project's original approval and that new users must be uses listed in the Central Lathrop Industrial Specific Plan. "To confirm that the new users would not exceed the traffic impacts of the original approval, supplemental traffic analysis shall be prepared for the city to review prior to occupancy," Cagat said.
Council members asked for and received assurances from staff that sidewalks, lighting, truck restrictions, and intersection improvements (including a roundabout) in the project area would remain conditions of approval. Council member Lazard asked if the sidewalks and pedestrian safety features remain; Cagat replied, "Correct. All of this will be incorporated." Traffic engineer Brad Taylor explained that a level of service requirement would apply to Manti Road at Roth Road only, not to city streets south of Dos Reyes.
Developers and local business owners spoke in support of the project, saying it would bring jobs. PJ Kinda, who owns property north of the site, told council the project would allow residents to work locally. Council approved the amendment by unanimous roll call vote.
The council retained prior truck-route limitations and screening requirements; staff said Golden Valley Parkway, Manthie (Manthi/Manatee) Road geometric constraints and the roundabout remain part of the project conditions. The resolution also removes a public-works condition that staff said was satisfied after a supplemental traffic analysis submitted in September 2023.
The amended permit does not automatically change what is built; rather, it authorizes the project owner greater flexibility while requiring staff review of any substantial change in use or traffic generation before occupancy.
