The South Lathrop Commerce Center, when complete, will be home to almost 5-million square feet of warehouse and light-industrial property.
And in order to maintain a development of that size, the Lathrop City Council approved a request of the developer on Monday night to levy a special tax on the parcels themselves to finance the ongoing maintenance and services necessary to benefit the properties that will be located within the project’s boundaries.
Currently Wayfair – the popular internet furniture distributor – is the only announced tenant of the massive development that will include three buildings in excess of 1 million square feet. One of the larger buildings at more than 1.1 million square feet, Wayfair was the first to announce that they would be opening in Lathrop, which has emerged as a popular selection for companies seeking distribution of products in Northern California because of its central location and access to major arterial freeways.
The Wayfair building, which is set to open later this summer, will serve as distribution for the Western United States.
The community facilities district model, which is commonly used in residential development to levy taxes to pay for necessary infrastructure and for things like school development fees, was approved by the council to allow the developer to begin collecting the assessment as a way to ensure that the project pays for its own maintenance and upkeep. Included in the agreement will be the maintenance and operation of public roads and streets, frontage improvements including curbs, gutters, and sidewalks, drainage facilities, standby charges related to ongoing maintenance costs, personnel necessary to provide for the maintenance, operations and services, and insurance costs related to the ongoing maintenance.
In addition to the boundary map that outlined the specific area that would be levied and the list of necessary services that would be funded with the assessment, the council was given documents that detailed the rate and method of the special tax and a resolution of intention that spelled out the specifics of what was being requested by the developer.
The property – located east of I-5, south of the Highway 120 Bypass and north of the San Joaquin River – will be one of two massive light industrial developments constructed in the vicinity, with work on the Lathrop Gateway Business Park expected to begin soon.
To contact reporter Jason Campbell email jcampbell@mantecabulletin.com or call 209.249.3544.
