MORENO VALLEY – (INT) – Voters will not be able to weigh in on the proposed mega-warehouse project known as the World Logistics Center. But, nine lawsuits still hang in the balance.

The City Council voted unanimously late Tuesday (11-24-15) to accept three valid petitions that, in essence, reaffirmed the council’s decision last summer to approve the 2,600 acre project.

Backers point to the economic benefits the 20,000 jobs the center would create. Opponents complain about the environmental impacts of 14,000 trucks using local streets and the Moreno Valley Freeway daily.

Legal challenges are likely to last well into 2016.

In a statement, the city said the economic, legal, social, technological and other benefits for the World Logistics Center were well documented during a three-year review period with full public hearings and a 10,000-page certified Environmental Impact Report.

Iddo Benzeevi, President & Chief Executive Officer of Highland Fairview, the company that is developing the World Logistics Center, said “The Moreno Valley City Council heard the voters loud and clear, and so did we, they want the city to move forward with the World Logistics Center (WLC) project as quickly as possible, creating jobs, hope and opportunity for thousands of residents.”

Legal challenges are likely to last well into 2016.

Story Date: November 27, 2015