Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Transportation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Calimesa staff: Sandalwood Travel Center environmental review open; project not a Flying J or Pilot
Summary
City staff said an initial study/mitigated negative declaration for a proposed Sandalwood Travel Center is out for public review Feb. 6–March 9; the director clarified that a social‑media sign claiming 'Flying J/Pilot' is misleading and the proposal is independently branded.
Community Development Director Kelly Lucia told the Planning Commission that the city has released an initial study/mitigated negative declaration and a notice of intent for the project referenced in the meeting as the Sandalwood (transcript also references 'Sandoval' and once reads 'Sandalwood Bridal Center') Travel Center and tentative parcel map 32815, and that the environmental document is now available for public review.
Lucia said the project is proposed at Sandalwood and Seventh Street immediately behind the Bob's Big Boy and Jack in the Box locations. She emphasized the project is not a Flying J or Pilot branded travel center after commissioners shared a social‑media photograph of a sign claiming otherwise; staff asked the developer to remove that sign. "There is not a truck stop, a Flying J or a pilot being proposed or constructed in that area," Lucia said.
What staff described Lucia described the proposal as having a travel‑center/truck‑stop component and said the development team (she identified the ownership group in the transcript as J and T Management, the owners of a nearby Circle K and related fueling facilities) had filed project materials with the Planning Department. Staff described elements included in the plan set and environmental document: passenger‑vehicle fueling, diesel fueling canopy, EV charging, cat scales, and roughly 19 truck stalls for the truck component; staff also used an approximate overall footprint figure (stated as 'approximately 9 acres total, with 3 acres of that being proposed' in the transcript) and called the truck component "relatively small."
Public review and next steps Lucia said the initial study/mitigated negative declaration is posted on the Planning Department page of the city website and paper copies are available at City Hall during business hours and possibly at the library. The public comment period opened Feb. 6 and will close March 9, and staff will separately notice a public hearing for project review at a later date.
Why it matters The travel center would introduce fueling and truck‑service infrastructure to a visible corridor in the city. Director Lucia urged interested parties to review the environmental document and submit comments during the posted review period; staff said the project will return to the planning commission after formal notice and hearing scheduling.
Clarifying notes - Transcript spelling and naming is inconsistent: staff used 'Sandalwood' and 'Sandoval' interchangeably at points and once the term 'Bridal Center' appears in the record; the project folder name cited by staff is 'Sandoval Travel Center' and staff recommended consulting the Planning Department folder for the authoritative plan set and environmental documents. - Staff gave the public comment period dates in the meeting record as opening Feb. 6 and closing March 9. - Staff characterized the proposed travel center as an independent brand and not affiliated with Flying J or Pilot.
The item was informational at the meeting; no land‑use approvals for the travel center were made that evening.
