Riverbank staff schedules Aug. 4 Riverwalk review, flags Modesto Super Walmart EIR that could affect local roads

City planning staff told the Riverbank Planning Commission on July 21 that the commission will hold a special meeting on Aug. 4 at the community center to review the proposed Riverwalk project.

In the same staff update, staff reported that the City of Modesto is preparing an environmental impact report for a proposed 181,000-square-foot Super Walmart at 4000 Oakdale Road in the Tivoli specific plan area. Staff said the original Tivoli specific plan expressly excluded a Walmart Supercenter, which is why Modesto will prepare a full EIR for the proposal.

"Because of its proximity to Riverbank, it has the potential to impact Riverbank roads in particular," the staff member said, adding that City of Riverbank staff will prepare and send a letter to Modesto outlining the city’s concerns and requesting focused review of road segments and intersections that could be affected. Staff encouraged residents to participate in Modesto's public scoping meeting (noted as a Zoom meeting this Thursday) to view the presentation and ask questions.

Separately, the clerk reported a notification from the San Francisco County director of public works about the North County Corridor project and a plan to close a stretch of Clarabelle (from Roselle to the recorded endpoint in the transcript) earlier than planned. The clerk said the closure is intended to shorten the overall project duration by about six months but could significantly affect travel, including railroad crossings, and advised residents to review the schedule when it is available.

Staff did not present formal action items on these updates, but the commission will consider the Riverwalk project at the Aug. 4 special meeting. The Modesto EIR is being scoping now; Riverbank’s staff letter and any requested mitigation or road-study focus will be part of interjurisdictional coordination with Modesto.