The Ceres Planning Commission approved a site plan and tentative parcel map for two large warehouses to be constructed west of Crows Landing Road just north of Service Road.
The site will be developed by G3, a company providing logistics and packaging services, particularly for the beverage industry. They offer a range of warehousing, transportation, and packaging components like closures and labels. While G3 Enterprises is not part of the Gallo Winery, it was founded by members of the Gallo family.
The move approves subdivides a 57.34-acre parcel into five parcels.
The project includes a basin and two warehouse buildings that will be up to 249,000,200 square feet. The large warehouses will be set back from Crows Landing Road and be accessible from Service Road. However, a new street – called B Street – will be required to be constructed to the north of the warehouses when the two vacant parcels fronting the west side of Crows Landing Road are developed.
Environmental review was not required since the land was evaluated as part of the West Landing Specific Plan environmental impact report before annexation was approved in 2008.
Dave Romano represented the applicant, G3 Enterprises, which operates at the former Procter & Gamble site at Crows Landing and Service roads. Romano said the location is ideal for a business park with access to nearby Highway 99 and I-5.
“It took a little bit of time, but G3’s been very successful,” said Romano. “They’ve been very successful in the city of Ceres. They have over 500 employees at their existing campus, and they really want to continue to grow that success. I know they’ve looked at a number of properties in the area and they were really excited when this piece of property became available because it’s so close to their existing operations. It’s of a substantial size that allows them to construct what they need to construct.”
Chris Evins of Evins Funeral Home next to the G3 site wanted the matter tabled to give him time to evaluate how the warehouses would affect his property value.
Addressing Evins’ concerns, planning consultant Lea Simvoulakis said the warehouses will increase property values.
Michelle Vargas spoke and expressed concern about the loss of farmland and an increase in truck traffic. Vargas also wanted to know how the warehouses would affect her family’s 20-acre almond farm operation on West Hackett Road behind the proposed warehouses. She wanted the city to inform G3 that her family has a right to farm and expect dust, noise and use of chemicals “in their backyard.”
Romano said G3 is aware of the neighboring farming and nited that “a warehouse is a much better use to be adjacent to farming and dust and those type of uses than would be an apartment complex or residential.”
Simvoulakis noted that while the loss of agricultural land cannot be mitigated, the city honors the right to farm next to development.
Mike Mendoza of the local Electrician’s Union argued for approval, noting that construction of the warehouses will offer much needed jobs “for our local workers to support their families, pay their mortgages and bills and strengthen the community.” He also pointed out that the city staff report highlights city policies that justify approval, noting the significant jobs and economic benefits it will bring with tens of millions of dollars in construction wages expected.
One gentleman expressed concern about traffic impacts on two-lane portions of Service Road and was told by City Engineer Michael Beltran that eventually the stretch will be widened as the area develops more.
John Warren noted that more trucks will “chew up that road even more than it is today” and more employee cars will be using the local streets.
“It’s going to bring a large amount of traffic, and that should be a concern of the developer as well to the commission,” said Warren. “I know the project fits very well, and I think it’s going to be good for the community. But these are concerns traffic and the condition of those roadways now, and they’re not going to get any better sooner.
Beltran noted that the city of Ceres is planning to have all of Crows Landing in the city limits rehabilitated. He expects the work to start in the first half of 2026.
“We’re going to be investing probably about $6 million to $7 million in the rehabilitation of Crows Landing Road,” Beltran told the commission.
The project was approved in a 3-1 vote with Gary Condit, R.J. Jammu and Ishwar Gil voting in favor and Dave Johnson voting no. Commissioner Dorie Perez was absent.
