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Beaumont planning panel approves finding to let city buy 30‑acre site for future police station
Summary
The Planning Commission unanimously found that acquiring a roughly 30‑acre L‑shaped parcel at Beaumont Avenue and Cougar Way is consistent with the Beaumont General Plan, clearing the way for a purchase agreement and a planned escrow close in early February 2025 pending due diligence.
The Beaumont Planning Commission unanimously adopted a resolution Dec. 11 finding that the citymay acquire a roughly 30‑acre parcel near the southwest intersection of Beaumont Avenue and Cougar Way for a future public safety facility.
Carol Kendrick, planning staff, told commissioners the property is vacant, L‑shaped and designated single‑family residential in the Beaumont General Plan. She said the general plan allows public facilities such as schools and parks in that designation and cited policies aimed at maintaining sufficient law‑enforcement services and coordinating with the Riverside County Sheriff. Kendrick said the city has an active purchase agreement and is targeting an escrow closing on or before Feb. 5, 2025, contingent on due diligence work.
Commissioners asked whether the station would front Beaumont Avenue or Cougar Way; Kendrick said preliminary thinking is that the building will face Cougar Way because of the parcelshape and that due diligence, including a recent biological review, was favorable.
Kendrick also said that the acquisition action itself is not a project under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and that any future capital improvement project to build a station would be subject to CEQA review. The staff report recommended the commission find the acquisition consistent with the Beaumont General Plan and forward a resolution to the city council.
A motion to waive full reading and adopt the resolution was moved and seconded; a roll call vote recorded affirmative votes from Commissioner Cueva, Commissioner Smith, Commissioner Garai, Vice Chair Southard and Chairman Cooley. The resolution passed unanimously and will be forwarded to the city council for final action.
Next steps: staff will proceed with escrow and due diligence; any design or construction proposal will return for separate environmental review and entitlements before work begins.
