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Why now: Assembly Bill 98, authored by Assemblyman Juan Carrillo (D-Palmdale), would require new warehouses built after 2026 to have a 300-foot buffer to “sensitive areas” such as schools, parks and hospitals. New warehouses built in areas rezoned for industrial use would require a 500-foot buffer.

The bill also requires new and expanded warehouses with a floor area of ​​over 250,000 square meters to be equipped with electric truck charging stations, rooftop solar panels and cool roofs. It requires separate truck entrances, air pollution monitoring and a 2:1 replacement of all demolished buildings.

What critics say: Andrea Vidaurre, a senior policy analyst with the People’s Collective for Environmental Justice (PC4EJ), argues that the bill would entrench the practice of building warehouses too close to communities already impacted by warehouses. She points out that 25 groups across the state oppose the bill because they believe it fails to take into account the communities most impacted by these developments.

Read more… for more information on this controversy.

California lawmakers plan to introduce a bill to improve warehouse construction standards before the end of this year’s legislative session. The bill has been criticized by environmental groups across the state who are opposing it.

Assembly Bill 98, authored by Assemblyman Juan Carrillo (D-Palmdale), would require new warehouses built after 2026 to have a 300-foot buffer to “sensitive areas” such as schools, parks and hospitals. New warehouses built in areas rezoned for industrial use would require a 500-foot buffer.

The bill also requires new and expanded warehouses with a floor area of ​​over 250,000 square meters to be equipped with electric truck charging stations, rooftop solar panels and cool roofs. It requires separate truck entrances, air pollution monitoring and a 2:1 replacement of all demolished buildings.

Andrea Vidaurre, a senior policy analyst with the People’s Collective for Environmental Justice (PC4EJ), argues that the bill would entrench the practice of building warehouses too close to communities already impacted by warehouses. She points out that 25 groups across the state oppose the bill because they believe it fails to take into account the communities most impacted by these developments.

“There are some great elements in the bill and we appreciate that stockpiling was taken seriously this year, but it’s not done yet,” Vidaurre said. “The process needs to involve (environmental justice) communities.”

AB 98’s co-author, California Assembly Majority Leader Eloise Gomez Reyes (D-Colton), has already introduced three unsuccessful bills to require warehouses to be physically distanced. Her last attempt, AB 1000, would have required a 1,000-foot buffer zone for warehouses, but Reyes withdrew the proposal from the California Assembly’s Local Government Committee after Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas created a warehouse task force earlier this year.

In a statement, Reyes said the task force’s goal is to develop “common sense guidelines” to address concerns about stockpiling. She is working with Rivas and Carrillo to advance the bill.

“While I believe this is an important step forward, I also do not believe this bill does everything needed to protect our most vulnerable, including the need for a major rollback, and I will continue to advocate for one,” Reyes said.

Ana Gonzalez, executive director of the Center for Community Action and Environmental Justice (CCAEJ), shares similar concerns to Vidaurre and believes Reyes will oppose the current setback language in the bill. However, Gonzalez warns that her group could also oppose the bill if the setback provisions are not removed.

“If we’re really talking about environmental justice, this whole process has been anything but environmentally just,” she said. “But I’m confident that (Reyes) will do everything in her power to make those changes, and when that happens, we’ll revisit this with our community.”

The text of the bill must be published by Wednesday so that it can be voted on before the end of the session.