Copper Trails has been a name on the lips of Ceres planners for over longer than 15 years. After years of being shelved, a master plan is being crafted for the annexation and development of 535 acres in southwest Ceres.

The master plan was ordered a year ago after project proponents Stewart S. Fahmy and Nav Athwal, contacted the city about initiating the Specific Plan. 

The proposed project is generally bordered by Service Road to the north, the Union Pacific Railroad tracks, Highway 99 and Mitchell Road to the east, the TID Lower Lateral No. 2 canal to the south, and Blaker Road to the west. The project area encompasses Central Valley High School, Hanline Elementary School and Hidahl Elementary School, along with rural homes and farmland.

The master plan area was expanded to take in county island properties both east and the Collins and Industrial Way neighborhoods west of Highway 99.

The city estimates that the Copper Trails Specific Plan area could result in up to approximately 2,392 dwelling units and 1.1 million square feet of regional commercial development. Additional development may also occur within an adjacent 146 acres of unincorporated land that would be annexed to the city together with the CTSP area.

The Ceres Planning Commission will conduct a public scoping meeting on the plan at 6 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 16 at the Ceres Community Center, 2701 Fourth Street. The public is invited to attend and provide comments at the meeting.

Those who would like to discuss the project or the environmental impacts that should be addressed in the EIR may be directed by emailing Christopher.Hoem@ci.ceres.ca.us.