Pixley Travel Center

The proposed Pixley Travel Center (Project) is located east of State Route 99/Avenue interchange on the northwest corner of the intersection of Road 124 and Avenue 120 in Pixley, California (Site). The Project is located on two contiguous parcels (Assessor’s Parcel Number [APNs] 300-010-015 and 300-010-005) totaling 36.47 acres. The northern parcel (APN 300-010-015; 9.67 acres) is planned for future development and may include a 17,000-square-foot truck wash and service building, along with associated site features such as a stormwater basin. The southern parcel (APN 300-010-005; 26.80 acres) will accommodate the primary components of the current Project, including a 20,000-square-foot convenience store, vehicle fueling islands and pads, an RV fueling island, a pet and children’s play area, fire-water tanks, and related site infrastructure. The Project plans include 10 diesel islands for truck fueling, two RV fueling islands, 16 vehicle (gasoline) fueling islands, 18 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, a truck scale, a 3,100 square foot fast-food restaurant with drive-thru, a pet/playground area for customers, and extensive truck parking areas. The fueling facilities are serviced by three 12,000-gallon gasoline underground storage tanks (USTs), and four 12,000-gallon aboveground fuel storage tanks (ASTs). It includes aboveground tanks and dispensers for biodiesel blender and diesel-emissions fluid (DEF). Ancillary facilities include two 80,000-gallon fire-water tanks, stormwater management facilities including appropriate surface grading, concrete valley gutter and drop inlets, and two stormwater basins (on the north side and on the south side of the Site), and multiple septic tanks with associated oil-water separators where appropriate), and seepage-pits. Except for the areas of the playground and stormwater basins, the Site surface will be paved with asphalt and/or concrete. The southern portion of the Project site (i.e., APN 300-010-050) is currently developed as a cotton-ginning facility with scale and office structure. Plans call for this facility to be demolished prior to construction of the Travel Center. Project plans include a Demolition Plan and need for a demolition permit, to be obtained from Tulare County. The Project will also require preparation of a stormwater pollution prevention (SWPP) plan and permit. The plans include facilities to manage the disposal of wastewater/sewerage on site through several septic systems, and site water (potable, landscaping, and fire suppression) will be provided by an on-site groundwater well which will require permitting through the State as a Public Water System. We understand that the Project proposes to consume a maximum of 4,000 gallons of water per day (gpd) (i.e., 4,000 gpd for operation of convenience store, a fast-food restaurant and general truck stop operations). Depending on the volume of wastewater generated, the applicant may be required to obtain a Waste Discharge Permit from the Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB). Discharge of 10,000 gpd triggers the need for waste discharge requirements. Electric, gas, garbage, and telecommunication services will be provided by private and/or public providers. The Project applicant will coordinate with the local electricity provider to confirm that adequate transmission and supply exist to service the Project, including the 18 proposed EV charging stations.