NEWMAN — The Newman City Council this week will hold a public hearing and consider the first reading of an ordinance approving a development agreement for the proposed Souza Commercial Center, a project that would bring up to eight commercial buildings to a 15‑acre site along Highway 33.
The Planning Commission approved the project’s site plan in September 2025, authorizing up to 107,000 square feet of commercial space, about 540 parking spaces and roughly 83,250 square feet of landscaping, according to the staff report. The council previously certified the project’s mitigated negative declaration in 2024.
The development agreement outlines the terms under which the project may proceed and establishes obligations for the developer. The agreement carries an initial 10‑year term, with the possibility of a one‑time five‑year extension if the developer installs at least $10 million in infrastructure improvements — including Highway 33 and Mattos Drive frontage work — within that initial period.
Under the agreement, the developer would be required to form a property owners’ association to maintain common areas and a required sound wall, construct frontage and off‑site improvements to Caltrans standards, build a minimum nine‑foot sound wall along the western property line before issuing occupancy for adjacent buildings, install landscaping consistent with city plans and provide bicycle parking. The developer must also comply with all conditions of approval and the project’s mitigation monitoring program.
The city would retain its authority to apply future health and safety regulations, adjust utility rates and impose new or increased impact fees.
City staff said the agreement supports long‑term planning goals and provides vested development rights while ensuring construction of significant public infrastructure. The project is expected to generate ongoing property and sales tax revenue, and the developer will bear the cost of all on‑site and off‑site improvements.
If approved, the ordinance would authorize the city manager and city clerk to execute and record the agreement. The council is scheduled to introduce the ordinance at its Oct. 13 meeting, with final adoption set for Oct. 27.
