Adelanto planning commission approves 631,600 sq ft Steelwave warehouse on 40-acre site

The Adelanto Planning Commission on Jan. 15 voted to approve a location and development plan for a 631,600-square-foot industrial warehouse proposed by Steelwave LLC on a consolidated 40-acre site in the city’s Airport Development District.

Staff planner Jim Hirsch summarized the application and recommended adoption of Resolution P-24-11 and an environmental exemption under section 15.183 based on consistency with the city’s previously approved general plan and EIR. Hirsch told the commission the project exceeds the district’s landscaping requirement (staff presented a conceptual plan showing about 8.5% landscaping) and provides roughly double the required automobile parking.

Kevin Joyce, Steelwave’s senior vice president, told commissioners the Class A distribution building (42-foot clear height) is speculative but aimed at large logistics users and said the developer expects to proceed quickly through design and permitting. "A facility of 600,000 square feet, it could employ upwards of 1,000 people," Joyce said. He also said Steelwave would both develop and manage the property over its lifecycle and would provide on-site infrastructure improvements — including road, water, sewer and power upgrades — as part of the conditions of approval.

Resident Gabriel Reyes addressed the commission in public comment, praising Steelwave’s engagement with staff and urging continued partnership. Commissioners asked about the two-year permit window for conditional use and project timing; Joyce said the two-year approval period was satisfactory for the applicant’s schedule.

Chair Wagner moved to adopt staff recommendations, including Resolution P-24-11 and approval of the location and development plan; the motion was seconded and the commission voted in favor (recorded as 5–0). The approved entitlements require the project to comply with the conditions set by staff and to return to the council level as appropriate.