A local labor union has officially appealed the environmental impact report for the South Ophir Warehouse project, which proposes a significant development of up to 3.2 million square feet in warehousing space. The Oroville City Council is scheduled to review the appeal on October 31, 2023, where they will consider the arguments presented against the report that received approval from the Planning Commission on October 23, 2023.
The environmental impact report outlines plans for a maximum of four warehouse buildings, each sized between 774,000 and 869,200 square feet. The Laborers International Union of North America, Local Union 185, submitted the appeal, asserting that the report fails to adequately address critical wildlife concerns. The union’s claims indicate potential risks related to pollution and energy resources.
According to a staff report, the union pointed out several species that could be negatively affected, including the burrowing owl, crotch’s bumblebee, and the western spadefoot toad. The appeal also highlights issues such as interference with wildlife movement, bird-window collision mortality, and traffic impacts on local wildlife. The union argues that these factors were not sufficiently covered in the environmental analysis.
The Oroville City Council will decide whether to uphold or deny the appeal. The staff report further notes that while the project encompasses a large area, there is little expectation that such a substantial development would be fully submitted.
Building Standards and Other Business
In addition to the warehouse project discussion, the council will hold a public hearing regarding an ordinance aimed at updating the city’s compliance with the California 2025 building standards code. This update is part of ongoing efforts to ensure that Oroville aligns with modern construction practices.
Council members will also receive updates from their legal partners, who are responsible for monitoring legislative changes, securing funding for essential projects, and advocating for necessary legal modifications at both state and federal levels. The firm Shaw, Yoder, Antwih, Schmeizer and the Ferguson Group represents the city’s interests federally.
Other agenda items include the potential reappointment of Vice Mayor Eric Smith to the Butte County Mosquito and Vector Control District board of trustees.
The Oroville City Council meeting is set to begin at 16:30 in the Oroville City Council Chambers, located at 1735 Montgomery St. Sessions are open to the public and can be accessed via live streams on Zoom and YouTube. The agenda for the meeting, along with links to the live feeds, is available on the city’s official website at cityoforoville.org.
