The Newman Planning Commission approved a site plan review for a proposed construction contractor’s yard proposal on Nov. 20.

The project, located on a property that includes an extension of Industrial Way and west of Canal School Road, will consist of a 6,000-square-foot warehouse building and a 720-square-foot mobile office. The project will take up a total of 10.34 acres while the buildings will occupy the 1.60-acres parcel within the city’s limits.

Since the property intertwines with Merced County, the upper northwest side of the project is the city’s controlled manufacturing zone while the southernmost portion is within Merced's agricultural zone. According to the meeting documents, storage for equipment and materials will be located south of the site. Two driveways will be added to the extension of Industrial Way for access to the storage areas. 

During the meeting, Board Member Kari Thompson asked if there will be a future plan for the property. Newman City Manager Michael Holland, in response, said there are long term plans to fully develop the site, including a pathway from Industrial Way to Canal School Road. He didn’t provide any specific plans.

“[There’s] long term plans to ultimately develop the full 50 acres whereby Industrial Way will go all the way along Canal School,” Holland said. “About halfway between this property here, it will go north and a road will go to [East] Inyo [Avenue] when a property north of this develops.”

Board Member Leland Coleman asked about the type of equipment stored in the storage. In response, Holland said heavy use equipment will be in the storage since that’s what the construction company uses to work on bridges.

Wahid Tadros, the applicant, submitted the site plan review application in June and it was sent to various departments for a 30-day comment period, according to the meeting documents. Earlier this month, the project received approval after it was submitted for Architectural Review.