Palisade Santee Commerce Center

The Palisade Santee Commerce Center project involves the demolition of existing structures and the construction of a 300,145-square-foot industrial and warehousing facility in Santee, California, with 290,145 square feet designated for warehouse operations and 10,000 square feet for office use. The facility will feature up to 42 dock-high doors, four grade-level doors, two truck courts, 301 vehicle parking spaces, fire access lanes, landscaping, fencing, and automated gates, along with utility, stormwater treatment, and roadway improvements including a new eastbound turn lane and frontage enhancements along N. Woodside Avenue. Operations are intended to run 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with exterior lighting restricted to shielded, downward-facing fixtures to minimize light pollution, and loading and unloading confined to designated truck courts during daylight hours. The project aligns with the site’s Light Industrial zoning and requires a Development Review Permit for demolition and construction of a building exceeding 50,000 square feet, as well as a Conditional Use Permit to increase the maximum allowable building height from 40 to 50 feet. The site has been confirmed not to contain hazardous waste as defined under California Government Code Section 65962.5. The project’s environmental review was completed through a certified Final Environmental Impact Report under the California Environmental Quality Act, which includes adopted Findings of Fact, a Statement of Overriding Considerations, and a Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program to ensure compliance with environmental standards. Key requirements include biological monitoring by a qualified biologist, paleontologist-led Worker Environmental Awareness Training prior to ground-disturbing activities, adherence to SDAPCD and CARB air quality regulations for dust and equipment emissions, and strict stormwater pollution prevention measures. Cultural resource protections mandate immediate work stoppage upon discovery of human remains or Native American artifacts, with notification of the County Coroner and Native American Heritage Commission, and consultation with the Most Likely Descendant before resuming. Historical preservation requirements involve HABS-quality documentation and photographic archiving of the former Santee Drive-In Theatre, including submission of written histories, architectural descriptions, and 35mm black-and-white prints to the San Diego County Public Library, San Diego History Center, and the City of Santee, along with installation of a permanent interpretive plaque at the site prior to certificate of occupancy. Construction is scheduled to begin in late 2025 and is expected to