The Hemet city council has agreed to reconsider a 1.2-million sq-ft warehouse project it had previously rejected after receiving a threat from the developer that it would sue the city over its earlier denials.

The developer had put the city on notice that it would sue on claims that the council members were biased. The developer dropped the threat after the city agreed to hold a third hearing, with City Council Members Tom Lodge and Connie Howard-Clark sitting out.

"This (agreement) is a strategic decision by the city to protect taxpayer money by avoiding a high stakes civil rights lawsuit that could drain the city's general fund," City Attorney Stephen Pacifico said at the city council meeting Feb. 10.

The council is expected to hold a new public hearing for the Newland Simpson project on March 10. Its last hearing, July 14, resulted in a 3-2 vote against the project, with Lodge and Howard-Clark in the opposition. 

Greg Lansing, the developer of the project, declined to talk about the project or the threat to sue at the advice of his lawyers. The decision for Lodge and Howard-Clark to recuse themselves  was made in closed session. Under California law, a city council may discuss expected litigation in closed session, but the threat of the suit must be made public. CalMatters asked Pacifico for a copy of the claim last week, which he forwarded to city hall. Communications Coordinator Jennifer Cortez did not respond to emails or calls.

City council members are to keep an open mind when considering matters on appeal from city staff, according to a 2020 appellate ruling from a Sacramento case. In that case, a council member organized opposition to a gas station, and advocated against the permit in private texts. After the ruling, the city made a $26 million settlement with the developer.

The Newland Simpson Project, if approved, would be built directly North of Diamond Valley Lake on what is now 73 acres of farmland. One building would be a 883,000 square-foot warehouse with 44,000 square-feet of office space and 144 dock doors. The second building would be a 309,000 sq-ft. warehouse with 15,000 sq. ft. of office space and 54 dock doors. A parking lot would hold space for 160 trucks. It has a tenant lined up: Rialto Distribution, which services Costco, Walmart and TJ Maxx. The city expected it to make 641 direct jobs and 101 indirect jobs.

All councilmembers with the exception of Lodge spoke following the July 14 public comment on the project. Howard-Clark said that the project would damage the health of Hemet's residents.

"Let me make it very clear: this valley cannot sustain the green(house) gases that will be coming, and are coming right now," Howard-Clark said.

"You can't put it here against the mountain. We're all doomed if it goes in. Personally, I don't want it to be, what it is, in the beginning of 'Welcome to Hemet.' Sorry, it doesn't work for me," Howard-Clark said.

The city rejected the project July 14. City attorney Steven Pacifico said at a city council meeting Feb. 10 that the city came to a settlement with HSL Hemet Land LLC and Hemet 223 LLC, a company controlled by Lansing, to hold a third hearing on the project. 

Mayor Pro Tem Joe Males spoke in favor of the project.

"The developer owns the land. They followed the legal process. It has gone through environmental reviews, and has significantly revised this project based on input from this council and the public. They downsized the square footage, reduced emissions, improved the view shed, and introduced meaningful community benefits including road repairs, a new trail, public art, and a job fair targeting community residents," Males said.

The California Democratic Convention, held over the weekend, resulted in clear consensus behind Democratic challengers to the Inland Empire's Republican representatives. Democrats could not decide, however, who to field for the races of the governor, treasurer, superintendent of public instruction or insurance commissioner.

The Democrats will run Tiffanie Lavon Tate against state Sen. Kelly Seyarto (R-Murrieta), Randall Putz against Assm. Tom Lackey (R-Palmdale) and Tessa Hodge against Rep. Jay Obernolte (R-Big Bear). The Democrats also could not land on a consensus for challengers against Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Bonsall) or Ken Calvert (R-Corona), both of whose districts were redrawn after approval by California's voters through Proposition 50, or against Assemblymember. Jeff Gonzalez (R-Indio). Other Republican representatives of the Inland Empire are not up for reelection in the primary election. 

Tate, Seyarto's challenger, launched a campaign to unseat Calvert last year before dropping out. The former Navy medical officer and OB-GYN raised $66,000 for that campaign before deciding in December to switch races and run for the state senate.

"We want a rep who carries the interests of the people," Tate said.

Putz, Lackey's challenger, has served on the Bear Valley Unified School District Governing Board, the Big Bear Lake City council and the Southern California Association of Governments. 

"What motivated me 18 years ago to run for my local school board, and still motivates me now, is to simply be helpful," Putz said by phone. "I want to take that 18 years of experience to Sacramento, so I can help our region get the attention and resources it needs and deserves."

Hodge, Obernolte's challenger, is a licensed clinical social worker who grew up in the high desert. She has continued working full time in practice, which she owns, while running the campaign. 

Hodge said she's seen through her daily work how federal policy affects her community's health. Either people don't have insurance, or their facilities don't have space for treatment.

"We don't have enough healthcare facilities or skilled nursing facilities or memory care facilities or treatment facilities. Even if insurance covers, often the wait to get into a facility you need can be long," Hodge said by phone.

Four other candidates declared their own candidacy, but dropped out before the convention.

CalMatters' reporters covered the Democratic convention. Read their stories here:

California Democrats back establishment candidates despite progressive pushback

'What the hell is going on?': Democratic leaders clash over congressional endorsement

Nancy Pelosi takes final bow as California Democrats' 'forever speaker' 

The Republican State Convention is scheduled for April 10, in San Diego.

The primary election is nine months away, and CalMatters is already launching the 2026 election newsletter. If you want to make an educated vote, and choose the person you think best represents your concerns, you can sign up for free.

After four weeks, 31,000 healthcare workers across Kaiser Permanente are returning to work with an incomplete contract but an agreed 21.5% wage increase over four years. The story is at the Riverside Record.

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