Stanislaus County to consider 2 truck parking facilities. What are the new regs?
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- Stanislaus County will review two proposed truck parking sites near Turlock.
- New rules would limit truck counts, require fencing and prohibit maintenance.
- Truck parking proposals follow rising complaints and code enforcement cases.
Stanislaus County supervisors will consider on Tuesday evening two proposals for truck parking facilities that were postponed for nine months while a committee worked on new regulations.
Pattar Trucking proposes an 80-space parking facility on 10 acres at 4325 W. Taylor Road, between Highway 99 and North Washington Road, near Turlock.
Atwal Properties seeks approval for a 40-space truck parking yard at 1018 Welty Road, just west of Highway 33 near Vernalis. Both trucking firms are asking for general plan amendments and rezoning to operate on land designated for agriculture.
The Pattar site has faced the most opposition and is the subject of a code enforcement case for operating without a permit. It’s also opposed by city of Turlock.
If county supervisors approve the use permit, county staff agrees with Turlock that additional piecemeal development of farmland west of the Union Pacific rail line not be allowed.
An ad hoc committee composed of Supervisor Vito Chiesa and Planning Commission Chairwoman Carmen Morad has studied the impacts of increasing truck parking in agricultural areas, including road deterioration, noise, air pollution, spills that pollute soil and water, and conversion of farmland for trucking operations.
Of the 32 applications for truck parking facilities in Stanislaus County, 23 were received in the past four years. At the same time, public complaints about unpermitted truck parking sites in unincorporated areas are on the rise, a county staff report says.
Twenty-five of the more recent permit applications to the county have been to legalize truck parking facilities dealing with complaint-driven code enforcement actions.
The county amended its truck parking rules in 2012 after code violations resulted in about 20 enforcement actions. Trucking firms organized a group to bring their concerns to the county, citing a lack of parking yards to meet the demands of their industry. The truck owners said the costs of siting parking facilities in urban areas was prohibitive.
The county tried to balance the concerns of residents and trucking firms by allowing two options: a home-occupation permit allowing the owner to park three tractors and three trailers on a rural parcel, or a use permit allowing up to 12 tractors and 24 trailers with restrictions imposed on operations.
The Pattar and Atwal projects are general plan amendments that may be considered for larger facilities.
County planners released the proposed amendments to the truck parking ordinance at a meeting in July attended by 46 people, including a combination of truck owners and residents who complain truck parking is out of control in agricultural areas.
One change would place tighter limits on truckers who apply for a permit to operate a business at home. Instead of parking three trucks and trailers, the limit would be one each.
Other amendments would require a use permit for truck parking in the “A-2” agricultural zone subject to rules and regulations. The county would allow no more than two parking facilities within a mile of state highways and Interstate 5.
The proposed limit on truck parking farther out from highways would be no more than one facility within a mile radius. Under the proposed amendments, an owner wanting to park trucks on a rural parcel must live on the property at least six months to qualify for a permit.
The five-year use permit would include standards for truck, trailer and employee parking. On smaller parcels, the parking area could not take up more than 50% of the property. Also required would be a 6-foot-high fence around parked trucks and trailers.
No stockpiling of tires and vehicle parts would be permitted. To alleviate concerns about pollution and damage to farmland, the county ordinance would prohibit truck washing, loading and unloading, hazardous materials, repairs including oil and tire changes and other maintenance.
Parking facilities approved under a use permit would be subject to annual county inspections. When the five-year permit expires, county staff could approve another five years if there has been no violation of conditions.
The Planning Commission is expected to review the proposed amendments Oct. 16. The Board of Supervisors could approve them in November or December.
Road conditions are ‘terrible’
Some residents attending the July meeting at Harvest Hall complained about illegal parking facilities that are out of compliance with existing rules.
Dave Shackelford, who attended the July meeting, said county roads are not maintained well as a growing number of heavy trucks use the roadways. “It disgusts me how terrible the roads are,” he said. “It will continue to get worse with the truck traffic.”
Other speakers said truck parking is controversial because existing parking facilities in cities are booked full. It forces truckers to park on the roadside or acquire a rural parcel for parking vehicles.
Jay Singh, who listened to details of the ordinance amendments, said his trucking business near Turlock operates 10 long-haul rigs that travel to the East Coast. He said he doesn’t see how truck parking creates an impact on neighbors.
People concerned about truck parking refer to a concentration of legal and unpermitted facilities in south Ceres, Keyes and an area just south of Turlock.
Pattar has said the company mostly hauls ag-related products and serves G3, a Gallo Wine subsidiary, as well as Hilmar Cheese, Seputo and Cisco, showing that it’s an active part of the regional supply chain. The county report says the Pattar project is consistent with the ad hoc committee’s recommendations.
Pattar Trucking was cited in 2019 for parking rigs at the site in violation of the county ordinance, leading to a May 2021 application to legalize the facility. The company’s plans include conversion of existing buildings into a maintenance shop for minor repairs and administrative office, with a dozen employees working at the site.
Pattar site is close to freeway interchange
Attorney George Petrulakis supported the permit at a hearing last year, stating that it’s close to a freeway interchange and won’t impact agricultural areas farther out. In addition, no loading and unloading would be done onsite.
Atwal, which has outgrown a facility in Tracy, proposes to convert four acres of a 23-acre orchard parcel for truck parking and keep farming the remaining land. Trucks with refrigeration trailers, for hauling goods to grocery stores, would operate Mondays through Saturdays with 29 employees, including 23 drivers picking up and dropping off trailers.
According to a county staff report, the Welty Road site is within a half mile of Highway 33 and will be landscaped with groundcover and screened by ornamental trees.
Mani Grewal, who was Board of Supervisors chairman in 2024, wanted to approve the Atwal project last December, based on its merits, and Supervisor Channce Condit agreed, but they were not supported by a third vote.
The Board of Supervisors will meet at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in the basement chambers at Tenth Street Place, at 1010 10th St. in Modesto.
This story was originally published August 18, 2025 at 5:47 PM.
