AB 1000: Logistics Centers

Assembly Bill 1000 by Assemblywoman Eloise Gómez Reyes (D-Los Angeles) would impose limitations on logistics centers. AB 1000 would add Government Code Chapter 2.8 to Division 1 of Title 7. Chapter 2.8 would be titled “The Good Neighbor Policy.” The bill would define the following terms: “development or expansion of any qualifying logistics use,” “local agency,” “qualifying logistics use,” and “sensitive receptors.”

AB 1000 would prohibit a local agency from approving the development or expansion of any qualifying logistics use that is within 1,000 feet of a sensitive receptor, with certain exceptions. A local agency would be allowed to approve the development or expansion of a qualifying logistics use that is greater than 750 feet from and within 1,000 feet of a sensitive receptor only if the local agency:

• Conducts a cumulative analysis of the air quality impacts of the warehouse development project

• Requires all heavy-duty vehicles domiciled onsite to be model year 2014 or later from the start of operations and expedite a transition to zero emission vehicles.

• Requires owners, operators, or tenants of the qualifying facilities to utilize a clean fleet of light- and medium-duty vehicles as part of business operations. 

• Requires all onsite equipment used at the warehouse to be zero emission with the necessary charging or fueling stations provided.

• Requires all off-road construction equipment used for the warehouse development project to be zero emission, where available.

• Requires zero-emission truck charging or fueling stations proportional to the number of dock doors at the project, running conduit to designated locations for future zero-emission truck charging stations.

• Requires constructing electric plugs for electric transport refrigeration units at every dock door and requires truck operators with transport refrigeration units to use the electric plugs when at loading docks. 

• Requires installation of solar photovoltaic systems and companion battery storage on the project site of a specified electrical generation capacity that is equal to or greater than the building’s projected energy needs.

• Prohibits trucks onsite from idling for more than three minutes and requires operators to turn off an engine when not in use.

• Prohibits the idling of heavy construction equipment for more than five minutes.

In addition, upon receipt of an application for a warehouse development project, a local agency would be required to:

• Post information on its internet website that is easily accessible and easily understandable by the public regarding the project and the process for public comment. The local agency would also have to mail or deliver a notice with a brief description of the warehouse development project and instructions to obtain information posted.

• Provide the information and notices required pursuant to this section in English and all threshold languages.

Moreover, the lead agency would be required to conduct at least one scoping meeting at a location within one mile of the project site, except if the lead agency makes a good faith effort and is unable to secure a location for the scoping meeting within one mile of the project site. The scoping meeting must be held on a weekday between the hours of 5 p.m. and 8 p.m.

At the scoping meeting, the lead agency would be required to provide information about the project’s potential environmental impacts, and take public comments regarding potential environmental impacts of the project. Finally, an individual affected by a violation of this new law or the Attorney General may bring an action to enjoin any violation.