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Refuting the We Are Temescal Valley Newsletter Editorial on the Serrano Project
February 2026
The “Incoming I-15 Corridor Improvements” editorial in the February We Are Temescal Valley Newsletter presented as facts the Serrano Corporate Center developer talking points aimed to persuade residents to support this controversial project. This op-ed is to consider the inaccuracies of claims made in that editorial, and to encourage discussion of how we can make the project a more acceptable neighbor.
It is claimed that the project would help “redirect mining truck traffic east of I-15, away from the west side of the valley”. Mining trucks to/from the north now use existing Temescal Canyon Road (TCR) for the 1.3-mile distance passing through one traffic signal to the I-15/TCR interchange. Redirected mining truck trips to New TCR would convert the existing 1.3-mile route to a 2.3-mile distance with up to five percent uphill grades and introduce stops and starts at six traffic signals.
This divisive idea cannot stand. If west side valley residents want this project, then west side residents need to share the traffic and air quality burdens of this project. Not only must existing TCR remain a truck route between the mining access and I-15/TCR, but action must also be taken to share the burden of truck trips to/from the south.
In the adjacent aerial a clockwise truck route is diagramed for trips to/from the south; southbound truck traffic along existing TCR to Indian Truck Trail (ITT), and northbound truck traffic routed along ITT and Campbell Ranch Road. This route maximizes the reduction of vehicle conflict points, as there are no driveways on the west side of TCR for southbound trucks east of I-15, and only the fire station driveway along the northbound Campbell Ranch Road segment between ITT and TCR.
The pro-project editorial also touts the developer “is frontloading all costs associated with design studies and initial improvements.” “Initial improvements” are the key words with respect to the proposed I-15/TCR interchange. While the editorial declares the interchange improvements “are designed to increase accessibility and accommodate current and projected vehicle volumes,” the reality is that the traffic impact study has not yet been completed, let alone reviewed for accuracy. Claims of "increased accessibility" are highly suspect with retention of the tight-diamond design and the very closely spaced traffic signal proposed with New TCR just a few hundred feet east of I-15. The reality is that the developer is trying to low-ball a minimum cost initial improvements interchange project. Like the I-15/Railroad Canyon interchange, we the taxpayers would subsequently need to pay millions of dollars to fix the mess created with “initial improvements”.
So why does this 6.4 million square foot warehouse project have support among key Valley influencers? The broader community needs to start asking this question.
The only reason that holds water is that school fees would be collected. School funding is the responsibility of the Corona - Norco Unified School District. School fees are collected on a building-by-building basis as individual building permits are issued. The school fees for the entire project total $5.4 million, little more than five percent of what it takes to construct a school. Has the developer bought project support by offering to frontload payment of school fees?
Is this worth destroying hundreds of acres of natural habitat, much of it within the MSHCP? Is this worth giving away the “Pride of the Valley” Community Center that is part of the Serrano project approved in 2010? In contrast to the school issue, a Community Center is mitigation to offset environmental impacts, and a benefit to all Temescal Valley residents. The previous community center use survey showed resident support, in order, for natural space and nature trail, library and local history room, active fitness space, senior center, swimming pool and sports fields. Subsequent support has been voiced by many for a Post Office.
Why are we giving away these community benefits in trade for additional environmental burdens that include, as cited by the State of California Department of Justice in their comment letter on this project, “diesel trucks visiting warehouses emit nitrogen oxide (NOx)—a primary precursor to smog formation and a significant factor in the development of respiratory problems like asthma, bronchitis, and lung irritation—and diesel particulate matter (a subset of fine particular matter that is smaller than 2.5 micrometers)—a contributor to cancer, heart disease, respiratory illnesses, and premature death”?
We, the residents of Temescal Valley, need to consider these questions. Our future quality of life depends on the answers.
The following is a brief synopsis of the Save Temescal Valley (STV) Team activities and observations starting in early 2023.
Since our letter of project concerns was sent to the County of Riverside, in the Spring of 2023, and several meetings with the county and the developer, from the Summer of 2023, we have submitted our comments to the county and the developer at the scoping meeting in June of 2024 regarding preparation of the Environmental Impact Report (EIR). On November 15, 2024, we finally heard from the developer that, based on comments from STV and other concerned organizations, they are working on a revised project. We have no idea what that means, but they indicated that they wanted to have a follow-up meeting with the STV Team just after the holidays. Stay tuned!
Presently, we are educating ourselves on the permitting process, environmental compliance and reviewing the EIR’s of other projects. The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) is very specific about conducting studies about documenting environmental impacts and Cumulative impacts. At this time we have no project to review and therefore no reason to secure legal support. The Serrano Warehouse WILL affect every resident in the Valley. What people aren’t aware of is that in addition to Serrano, another approximately 2 million square feet of warehouse are planned near Dawson Canyon Road and Alberhill.
STV is now part of a Coalition of anti-warehouse advocates. The Coalition is an organized voice for reasonable development and to hold elected leaders accountable. With County politicians who are pro-warehouse, the burden of fighting warehouses is on our collective shoulders.
We know “something” may be built at the Serrano location. What it will be, and how big, has yet to be determined. Our current GOAL is public education. There are A LOT of people who don’t know about the project and some who actually think it is good. The latter group has NO understanding of what adding 1,000 to 1,500 trucks per day will mean to traffic congestion, commutes and the likely use of residential side streets due to gridlock. Further, how is that diesel exhaust pollution mitigated? Electric trucks are not a solution since they don’t exist in the numbers needed, and currently there isn’t even adequate power at that location.
The EPA has established a law to regulate truck pollution called the Warehouse Actions and Investments to Reduce Emissions (WAIRE) Program. This program charges polluters and users, meaning warehouses, a pollution fee. Unfortunately, the polluter has the option to buy pollution credits, usually offsite, which does nothing to benefit residents near the source of pollution. If and when WAIRE becomes a compliance tool for warehouse owners and operators, citizens are going to be involved in the enforcement oversight. When lawyers get involved all communication stops. For now we want a seat at the table.
Point: we are NOT looking to see a developer write a check to buy their way out. We want physical, on-site changes.
To compound the problem, Temescal Valley, due to elevated ozone and diesel particulate pollution, has been designated an “environmentally disadvantaged community” by the State. Temescal Valley’s pollution burden is at the maximum allowable threshold. To make matters worse, County Supervisor Karen Spiegel’s Office wants to argue that our disadvantaged status isn’t true.
We have heard there may be some misinformation about STV and the Serrano project being circulated by others. The Core group wants to be clear, we only deal with factual information and studies we have researched before utilizing that information.
We NEED to make an impact at the planning stage and not wait until the project is before the County Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors for a vote. We want solutions that don’t involve lawyers unless it is necessary. We want to maintain communication with the developers and continue to have a seat at the table. When attorneys get involved, the communication we have developed between STV and the developers and the County will cease except through costly legal communications.
Other news:
The State passed AB 98 which sets standards for building warehouses near communities. The start date for AB 98 is January 2026. It won’t help us with Serrano since it grandfathers in all earlier project applications.
We have written a Letter of Support to the Coalition who has applied for a $250K EPA grant to monitor Environmental air quality.
The Burrowing Owl has been proposed by the State to be listed as a Threatened or Endangered species. Over the next 12-18 months California Department of Fish and Wildlife is conducting a status review. The outcome should require greater conservation requirements. It is unlikely that the Burrowing Owl listing will do anything to change onsite development at the Serrano site.
Thank you to everyone that has been involved with STV on this important issue!
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