Humboldt County begins environmental review for proposed Amazon warehouse in McKinleyville

Humboldt County circulated the Notice of Preparation for an environmental impact report on June 29 for the proposed Amazon warehouse in McKinleyville. Project McKinley is now in the stage where staff must decide what studies are needed before any final permit decision.

The proposal is a 40,290-square-foot commercial warehouse with additional parking lots across six parcels in the Airport Business Park. The county first received the coastal development permit application on April 21, 2025. In February, Amazon planned a last-mile distribution warehouse near the Humboldt County Airport, and the site is 3110 Boeing Avenue on a 9.4-acre parcel.

If county analysis shows that truck traffic would overwhelm nearby roads, or that loading operations, operating hours, drainage or lighting would create problems for surrounding uses, the county can require mitigation before the project advances. If the impacts are too large or the fixes are not enough, the process can slow the project sharply or block approval altogether. If the studies show the warehouse can meet county and coastal development standards, it can move forward.

Residents, nearby property owners and local business operators can use the process to push for more detail on truck routes, neighborhood noise, air quality and how a major distribution facility would fit beside airport-related businesses in McKinleyville. A community meeting on April 29 at Azalea Hall drew roughly 200 people, with opposition overwhelming the room, and by mid-June a local group was pursuing a ballot initiative aimed at blocking large-scale warehouse and distribution facilities in the county’s Coastal Zone.

Humboldt County is also advancing zoning changes and environmental review for the McKinleyville Town Center.