SITE PLAN REVIEW 21-005

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife has approved an amendment to Lake and Streambed Alteration Agreement EPIMS-LAN-34662-R5, authorizing Trader Joe’s Company, represented by Robert Camarena, to modify the mitigation requirements for burrowing owls associated with the construction of a 1,050,000-square-foot industrial facility in Palmdale, California. The amendment introduces a new option to satisfy the Habitat Management Land Acquisition requirement under Measure 3.2 by permanently conserving Assessor’s Parcel Number 3236-003-011 in Fairmont, California, instead of the originally specified land acquisition approach. This change ensures long-term protection of critical habitat for the burrowing owl while aligning with the project’s environmental compliance obligations under Fish and Game Code section 1602. The amendment reflects a shift in mitigation strategy toward in-perpetuity conservation of a specific parcel identified for its ecological value. The project, referenced under SITE PLAN REVIEW 21-005, is managed by the City of Palmdale with environmental oversight from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Contact points for the project include Andrew Aitken, Environmental Scientist at CDFW, Jasmine Alvarado, Assistant Planner for the City of Palmdale, and Robert Camarena, Senior Vice President of Trader Joe’s Company. The agreement remains valid under state environmental regulations, and while the original project proposal was posted in 2026, the amendment specifically alters the conservation mechanism without altering the scale or location of the planned industrial development. No new construction approvals are required beyond the revised mitigation terms outlined in the updated agreement.