Planning commission forwards Locust Gateway logistics project to council after certifying final EIR and securing $4 million contribution

The Rialto Planning Commission on Dec. 17 forwarded a recommendation to the City Council to certify the final environmental impact report and approve multiple entitlements for the Locust Gateway Development Project, a proposed 664,859‑square‑foot industrial warehouse on a 38.89‑gross‑acre site in the Rialto Airport Specific Plan.

Planning staff summarized project features, including two large truck courts screened by 14‑foot walls, up to 480 truck/trailer parking stalls and more than 365 passenger spaces. A transportation impact study by Kimley‑Horn estimated up to 1,138 daily vehicle trips, including about 455 truck trips, and identified existing infrastructure deficiencies at several intersections. Recommended mitigations include installing a new traffic signal at Locust Avenue and Casa Grande Drive and other lane‑restriping and turn‑lane work. Staff identified the applicant’s traffic fair‑share as $364,699 to be paid prior to certificate of occupancy. Daniel (staff) told the commission: "The applicants fair share identified in the study is, $364,699." (staff presentation)

Staff also described the development agreement terms: the applicant agreed to a $4,000,000 monetary contribution to the City of Rialto to be used at the sole discretion of the City Council, a five‑year vesting period with an optional five‑year extension, and locked development impact fee rates at current fiscal year 25/26 levels. On environmental review, the final EIR (dated Dec. 2025) identified significant and unavoidable greenhouse‑gas impacts; the resolution before the commission included findings of overriding considerations, with staff citing project benefits including site reuse, commitments to on‑site renewable energy to supply 100% of the building’s energy load, estimated long‑term job creation (staff estimated more than 550 permanent jobs), and increased tax revenues.

Applicant Amir Latifi (Brookfield Properties) said the project would attract "first‑class tenants," commit to local hiring and union partnerships, and that the design and site are consistent with the general manufacturing land use designation. Public commenters included a CARA California representative (Jose Pina) and a union ironworker (Robert Lugan), both urging approval for job creation and local hiring benefits.

A motion to adopt the attached resolutions and forward the project to city council (including certification of the FEIR and approval of the tentative map, conditional development permit, precise plan of design, and development agreement) passed on roll call; the commission will forward those recommendations and the project will be scheduled for a future City Council hearing.