Rialto council approves Willow and Valley warehouse project despite environmental objections

The Rialto City Council on Tuesday approved a proposal to re-designate a roughly 6.02-acre site at the northeast corner of Valley Boulevard and Willow Avenue for industrial park use and to allow two industrial buildings, after a public hearing and council debate.

City staff presented an initial study and a mitigated negative declaration (MND) and said traffic and VMT analyses showed no significant impacts when mitigation measures were included. Planning staff noted the Planning Commission had recommended approval (6–0, one absence) on April 15, 2026.

“An EIR should be required,” said Chase Preciato of Lizo Jury LLP representing Supporters Alliance for Environmental Responsibility (SAFER). Preciato said an expert ecological review by Dr. Sean Smallwood identified risks the MND did not adequately address, including potential habitat use by multiple special-status species and inadequate cumulative-effects analysis. “There is substantial evidence of a fair argument that the project may result in significant adverse biological impacts,” Preciato told the council.

The applicant and its consultant disputed those conclusions. Brian Bargeman, a principal for Investment Building Group and the site owner, said the team followed required study protocols and that the late-submitted letter received the day before the meeting was not reflected in prior public review timelines. “We believe we have gone through the process completely above board,” Bargeman said.

Chelsea Ones of Dudek, the environmental consultant, said the site is “highly disturbed” and noted that the species cited in the letter either have no documented nesting colonies on the site or are not listed species of special concern for California Department of Fish and Wildlife. “Our standard surveys and proposed mitigation measures led to the conclusion that impacts would be less than significant with the MMRP,” Ones said.

Council members pressed both sides on timing, survey scope and whether the late-submitted letter should have been raised earlier in the Planning Commission process. Mayor Pro Tem Tim Scott moved to approve the project and related resolutions; the motion was seconded by Councilmember Andy Caroseres and passed by unanimous roll call.

The council adopted a package of resolutions (read during the meeting) approving the MND and entitlements. The resolution text read into the record described the project as two industrial warehouse buildings of 146,758 square feet and 173,210 square feet respectively, to be built on 6.02 gross acres (as read in the final resolution language at the meeting).