Winters council approves Kiewit precast facility with condition to improve bike/ped access

The Winters City Council approved Resolution 2026‑12 on a voice vote to allow a planned development permit for Kiewit Infrastructure West Coast to build a precast concrete casting facility in the city’s industrial overlay. Kelly Mumper, the city’s contract planner, told the council the site was prezoned in 1999 and staff relied on the 1992 EIR and a 1999 negative declaration to analyze environmental impacts for the 62‑acre overlay.

The permit covers a new casting unit and about a 1,200‑square‑foot addition to an existing 22,000‑square‑foot building. Mumper said operating hours would be 5 a.m. to 5 p.m., noise projections fall below the industrial threshold and the applicant is proposing roughly 100 parking spaces despite a code requirement for 46. She said the project team also coordinated in advance with the Yolo Conservancy and is prepared to complete required conservancy payments and approvals.

Residents and commission members raised concerns about traffic, vehicle miles traveled and pedestrian safety near the I‑505 ramps. David Springer, a local resident who spoke during the hearing, cautioned against relying on the older EIR standards and said switching from VMT to level‑of‑service (LOS) metrics obscures the project’s emissions: “With changes in state policy … it seems a little absurd to be relying on the 1992 general plan EIR,” Springer said, asking for an accounting of CO2 and other emissions.

Kiewit representatives described the operation as a precast facility that batches concrete on site and ships finished products (bridge girders and similar items); they said wastewater from site processes would be hauled off (approximately 5,000 gallons in a typical week) and that dust‑collection and air‑quality controls would meet district permits. A company representative told the council the plant would not sell ready‑mix concrete to the public and that most heavy truck movements would be infrequent and coordinated.

Council members pressed staff and the applicant about water use, truck routing, and bike access. After discussion the council added a condition (number 84) directing the applicant to “work with the City of Winters to explore and improve bikeway amenities along Matsumoto Lane and at appropriate locations add signage to clearly indicate the 8‑foot shared path is for bicyclists and pedestrians.” The council recessed to finalize the condition in staff’s pre‑signature review and then voted to adopt the resolution.

The action allows the project to proceed with the stated conditions; the resolution and conditions were read into the record and the motion carried by voice vote. City staff said they will coordinate with Caltrans on any required ramp modifications or signal work and will include enhancements to the pedestrian/bicycle connection as part of the frontage improvements where feasible.

Next steps: council approved the resolution with the added bikeway condition; staff will finalize permit conditions and return materials for signature and implementation.