Saying that both proposals for a warehouse would be “grossly out of sync” with California’s climate-change policies, a public-interest law firm filed a legal action Tuesday asking a judge to order the city of Irwindale to set aside its approval for the use land near the San Gabriel River (605) Freeway pending the certification of a more sufficient environmental assessment.
The Los Angeles Superior Court petition filed by the Advocates for the Environment alleges that two options for warehouses at the Irwindale Gateway Specific Plan project site on just over 66 acres in the 13600 block of Live Oak Lane would create significant greenhouse gas impacts.
One option for the land proposes is a 954,800 square-foot warehouse and the second 668,070 square feet.
“Either of the project’s options would be grossly out of sync with California’s climate-change policies,” the petition states.
On March 26, the City Council held a second reading of the Gateway ordinances in order to approve the project, the petition further states.
Irwindale City Attorney Adrian R. Guerra did not immediately reply to a request for comment on the petition.
The city of Irwindale website states that the project proposes development of an industrial logistics and distribution center along with parking spaces and loading docks. According to the petition, the city released a final environmental impact report last October that found that the project’s impact on greenhouse gas emissions would be “significant and unavoidable.”
The city’s conclusion that further mitigation of the gases is not infeasible is contradicted by “substantial” evidence, the petition states. For example, the city could require the project applicant to agree to a enter into an agreement zero-emission heavy-duty truck fleet to the extent feasible and as soon as is reasonable, the petition further states.
“It is also feasible to enter into an agreement to purchase clean energy to offset the electricity usage of the project or engage in any other offset program,” according to the petition.