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Perris holds scoping meeting for AB 98 truck‑route EIR; Case Road added, three segments proposed for removal
Summary
At a Nov. 19 scoping meeting the commission reviewed proposed truck‑route updates to comply with AB 98: adding Case Road (Bonney to Watson) and removing three segments including parts of Ellis Avenue and San Jacinto Ave; the EIR will examine air quality, energy (diesel), greenhouse gas and noise impacts; public commenters urged alternatives and more outreach.
The Planning Commission held a public scoping session on Nov. 19 for a proposed General Plan circulation amendment and code changes to update Perris’ truck routes to comply with Assembly Bill 98.
Rafael Garcia introduced the item and Michael Brown of Cadence Environmental Consultants described the environmental review approach. Brown said the proposed update would add one truck route — Case Road from Bonney Road to Watson Road — and remove three existing segments: Ellis Avenue from McPherson Road to Getz Road, Ellis Avenue between the Ellis realignment area and Sherman Road, and San Jacinto Avenue between I‑215 and Dunlap Drive. Brown said no new road construction is proposed; the update is a designation change affecting which existing roadways are officially designated as truck routes.
Because routing trucks differently can increase distances and concentrate heavy‑truck traffic on alternate routes, the consultant said the EIR will evaluate four key environmental topics: air quality (consistency with regional air quality plans and the potential for increased criteria pollutants), energy impacts (primarily increased diesel use), greenhouse gases, and noise and vibration. Brown noted that vehicle‑miles‑traveled (VMT) significance thresholds under CEQA apply to autos and not to medium‑ or heavy‑duty trucks; the EIR will instead model truck travel patterns and emissions.
Staff said the Notice of Preparation (NOP) was circulated on Nov. 7; the public comment period for the NOP closes Dec. 8, 2025, and the draft EIR is expected in mid‑December. The consultant asked the public and commissioners for issues to evaluate during the EIR.
Public commenters raised alternatives and outreach concerns. John Langford, representing Perris Property LLC (a large property owner inside the specific plan area), asked the city to study an alternative that extends an Ellis Avenue overpass to I‑215 and to examine an Ellis‑aligned truck route because an active application depends on that routing. Community advocates from Freight Action Coalition and the Sierra Club supported removing truck routes that front sensitive receptors but urged removal of Case Road from the proposed additions, arguing Case Road runs through mixed commercial/residential areas and could incentivize further industrial development; they also urged more mandatory public outreach as required by AB 98.
Commissioners asked staff to ensure the EIR analyzes impacts to sensitive receptors (for example schools along Morgan Street) and to consider land‑use adjacency when modeling noise and air quality. Staff and the consultant said the EIR would evaluate changes in truck traffic on remaining routes and identify whether noise or emissions increase at sensitive existing or planned receptors.
No vote was taken at the scoping meeting. Staff said the Planning Commission will review the proposed truck‑route map under a future general plan amendment anticipated in March 2026; meanwhile the EIR scoping record will incorporate comments received through the NOP comment period and tonight’s testimony.
