Perris approves large warehouse project near Big League Dreams baseball complex despite community pushback

The Perris City Council voted 3-2 to approve the Mapes and Trumble Facility Project on Tuesday, Nov. 12. Mayor Michael Vargas, Mayor Pro Tem Rita Rogers and Councilmember David Starr Rabb voted yes. Councilmembers Malcolm Corona and Marisela Nava voted no.

The project consists of a 350,000 square foot warehouse and two business parks totalling 14,000 square feet, bordering the Big League Dreams baseball complex and the Dropzone WaterPark near the southwest corner of Mapes Road and Trumble Road.

Initially denied by the Perris Planning Commision last August by a vote of 5-0, the commission allowed the applicant, Blue Marquise, to revise the project. 

The approved revisions changed the scope of the project—from one 395,000 square foot warehouse to a 350,000 square foot warehouse and two business parks. Additionally, Blue Marquise revised the community contribution from a $100,000 scholarship to a $400,000 contribution to the City of Perris Downtown Skills Training and Job Placement Center, with an additional contribution of $50,000 for the basketball court at Green Valley Park. 

Supporters of the project, including warehouse construction workers, say Blue Marquise’s project will deliver on bringing local jobs to nearby workers. 

“This project isn't just about putting buildings up,” said Juan Cerado, a member of Laborers International Union of North America (LIUNA). “It's about creating good paying jobs–stable jobs–that support families right here in our community.” 

Residents and community organizations based in Perris and nearby Mead Valley are concerned about the project’s proximity to Big League Dreams and the Dropzone WaterPark. 

Karla Cervantes, a member of Perris Neighbors in Action, says the project is detrimental to the city. 

“In the end, they approved a warehouse close to sensitive receptors without going through the proper process that they like to say they adhere to,” said Cervantes. 

Resident Jillian Menez warned the council, alleging that the project’s Environmental Impact Report (EIR) was incomplete and in breach of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). 

She alleges that the project was working off a Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND), specifying that an MND is put in place when an EIR is incomplete. Menez believes Perris could be in violation of CEQA law by approving the project. 

“Instead of responding with proper CEQA procedure–an EIR–the city’s response was to brush off the concerns and move on from them,” Menez said. “If you choose to go through with this, then you and the project developer are vulnerable to the legal ramifications associated with that breach of CEQA law.” 

Stephen Hale, Perris’ Public Information Officer, explained in an email that an EIR is not always required for development projects.  

“For the Mapes and Trumble project, the Initial Study concluded that all potential environmental impacts could be reduced to less-than-significant levels with mitigation measures,” Hale said. “Therefore, a Mitigated Negative Declaration was prepared, and an EIR was not necessary. If an EIR had been conducted, it would have used the same analyses and reached the same conclusions.”

Meanwhile, Councilmember Corona explained through email his decision to oppose the project. 

“It was in an area that most likely won’t see any development anytime soon,” Corona said. “For me, it wasn’t a hard no, but I never like to abstain. I did listen to the concerns of the residents and voted no, but not without hesitation.”

Mayor Vargas has not responded to The Frontline Observer’s request for comment.