If all goes according to plan, work will start on Manteca’s eighth Chevron gas station sometime in 2024.

The representative of the developer of an envisioned commercial complex on the southeast corner of Airport Way and Lathrop Road told the Manteca Planning Commission said Thursday that the Chevron fueling station, Extra Mile convenience store, and car wash are targeted to break ground next year.

The second phase — a quick serve restaurant with drive thru service, two full-serve restaurants and assorted retail space — won’t happen for a year or so after that.

Planning Commissioner David Mendoza was not thrilled about the idea as he was the lone dissenter on a 3-1 vote.

His opposition was based on the city staff not requiring a raised permanent barrier of some type — such as a 6-inch wide concrete curbing — to prevent motorists from turning left onto and off of Lathrop Road just before Airport Way.

The city staff is only requiring painted double yellow lines and right turn only stop signs at the driveway closest to the intersection.

 Mendoza said he had “a hard time understanding how paint on the roadway will work” to prevent motorists from doing what the city doesn’t want them to do.

He expressed the belief the city needs a raised median, or barrier of some type, to get compliance.

The city required such a barrier on Louise Avenue east of Main Street when the 7-Eleven and gas station was built earlier this year on the northeast corner on that intersection.

The yellow lines they replaced were repeatedly ignored  as were the right tun only signs that were at the exit to the taqueria that operated in the remodeled Long John Silver’s that was demolished to make way for the new convenience store with fuel pumps.

Elected leaders, apparently like Mendoza, have observed people repeatedly ignoring “right turn only” signs at the exit of commercial developers as well as crossing over double yellow lines to access places such as convenience stores.

They have made a point of pushing for what Mendoza wanted on Lathrop Road in connection with the retail project.

Staff indicated there wasn’t sufficient right of way to even place a narrow curbing on Lathrop Road.

Mendoza argued that the city could make the travel lanes somewhat narrower to accommodate a raised median as the city has done elsewhere for other traffic needs such as bike lanes and still meet the state minimum width for a lane.

Staff inferred that when the northeast corner of the project develops, at that time the city could require such an improvement.

Mendoza noted that could easily take years to happen.

Airport Way and Lathrop Road are two of the city’s heaviest traveled arterial.

Truck traffic is expected to increase significantly on Lathrop Road.

Mendoza believes both access points on Lathrop Road should have physical improvements that prevent turns from and to the westbound lane.

As such, those wishing to access the gas station and future restaurants from westbound Lathrop Road would have to make a U-turn at the traffic signal.

A courtyard designed as an “outdoor room’ for dining complete with a water feature is part of the proposed retail development on the southeast corner of Airport Way and Lathrop Road.

The 1,800-square-foot courtyard is part of the second phase of 13,000 plus square feet of buildings on 3.03 acres.

The courtyard is between a retail building of 5,374 square feet and a pair of restaurant spaces — 1,908 and 2,092 square feet respectively — planned for the second phase.

The courtyard could accommodate up to nine tables.

The outdoor plaza embraces a general plan goal to encourage pedestrian activity in  commercial areas.

The planning staff report notes, “This area will act as an “outdoor room” with tables and seating, lush landscaping and a relaxing water feature. Spaces such as this are important in cities and encouraged because they provide opportunities to sit and congregate.”

“Opportunities to be in spaces like this can improve a person’s physical and mental well-being and are therefore an essential part in creating healthy, livable communities for people, rather than designing cities for just cars.”

The project also includes in excess of 50 trees.

It is the first commercial development in northeast Manteca.

The closest is a mile to the east at Union Road and Lathrop Road.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com