Fullerton residents could soon see a new 110,000-square foot warehouse despite local concerns about long-term environmental impacts like air quality and traffic.

Fullerton City Council members unanimously voted last month to move forward with the project and rezone the warehouse site.

The council’s vote approved a Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND), a simplified environmental review process to begin the development. That was approved instead of an Environmental Impact Report (EIR), a more detailed and commonly-used study about long-term impacts on the environment. 

This vote clears the way to demolish the existing multi-tenant business park and replace it with a warehouse classified as a manufacturing park, paving way for more truck-oriented, industrial use. 

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City staff told council members this project would have “less than significant impacts” on the environment, meaning that under state law, a full environmental review process — like an EIR — is not required.

Councilmember Ahmad Zahra pressed staff on whether the simplified analysis truly captures long-term environmental effects on the surrounding area.  

“Is this only focused on the actual construction?” Zahra said. “Or is it the life of the project, both construction and after?”

Staff presenting the item said the impacts would remain less than significant and still recommended against preparing a full Environmental Impact Report.

The current site, known as the Cedarwoods Business Park, sits north of Orangethorpe Street between State College Boulevard and Placentia Avenue and currently covers about 85,700 square feet.  

Under the approved plan, it will be replaced with a 110,232-square foot concrete warehouse, including 10,000 square feet of office space, 15 loading dock doors, an eight-foot iron fence and 91 parking spaces. 

Residents raised concerns about localized congestion from vehicles, the emissions from the trucks and other industrial uses as reasoning for a full environmental review process. 

Some residents and advocates backed the project but still questioned the purpose of the warehouse. 

Resident Curtis Gamble said he supported the project.

“I think this is a good opportunity for the local businesses to grow,” Gamble said.

Even with the support, Gamble still had a few inquiries that were not answered through the presentation of this project.

“Will you repair any of those streets? What will the buildings be used for? ” Gamble said.

A facility this size is expected to generate increased traffic from trucks and cars each day. For nearby residents, this could mean large vehicles traveling through one of Fullerton’s key east-west corridors. 

The concern of more traffic raises questions for pollution and louder noises in heavily populated areas, especially since this project is across the street from Fullerton College.

Fullerton resident Jane Reifer criticized the project. 

“We have an onslaught of warehouses in the city,” Reifer said. “If the truck trips are going to increase, we should take a look at the [road] conditions.” 

Kylah Staley, speaking on behalf of Supporters Alliance for Environmental Responsibility (SAFER), said the construction site will lead to high levels of diesel particles. 

“The Project’s construction and operation would add to this existing pollution, potentially creating a significant cumulative impact,” Staley wrote in a comment submitted to the council.

Under state environmental law, local governments are supposed to complete an Environmental Impact Report whenever there is “substantial evidence” that a project may cause significant impacts that cannot be fully reduced. 

Residents and environmental advocates claim that increased truck traffic, pollution and cumulative effects over time meet the threshold for a full report. However, city officials sided with staff that the lighter review will suffice. 

Fullerton is not the only city that has discussed proposals for large warehouse projects.

Residents in Lake Forest also voiced concern about environmental impacts for a warehouse proposal last year. 

[Read: Lake Forest Residents Protest Proposed Warehouses Near Homes]

Irvine council members have discussed steps toward preventing environmental impacts due to warehouse projects.

[Read: Irvine Rethinking How Large Warehouses and Residences Mix]

Fullerton Senior Planner David Lopez said the city has not constructed the timeline for the project just yet.

“At this time, the project applicant has not submitted construction drawings for review,” Lopez said.  “It is not known how many versions or reviews will be needed.”