Contentious concrete plant OK'd by planners
| Thursday, Aug 27 2009 10:42 PM
Last Updated Friday, Aug 28 2009 11:54 AM
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Felix Adamo / The Californian Tom Smethurst explains his concerns about a proposed concrete plant near Hageman and Allen Road to the planning commission Thursday night. Smethurst is a homeowner in the area.
Felix Adamo / The Californian Homeowner Carol Bender points to map to show her property lies in relation to a concrete plant that is planned near Hageman and Allen Road. Bender was voiceing her opposition to the planning commission along
Felix Adamo / The Californian Darcy Larman, spokesman for the propose concrete plant, addressed the planning commission concerning the issue.
Third time's a charm for Mark Polhamus.
Kinda.
A controversial concrete recycling plant proposed by Polhamus near Allen and Hageman roads in Rosedale got a lukewarm approval from the Kern County Planning Commission Thursday night after being delayed at two previous meetings.
Neighbors have strongly opposed the project.
They are concerned about dust, noise and traffic from the project degrading the quality of life in the surrounding housing tracts.
But commissioners took an audience suggestion and ran with it -- approving a conditional use permit that will allow Polhamus to move forward with plans to crush concrete into road base on the industrial land.
But commissioners put a two-year time limit on their approval.
Polhamus' ability to do business will run out after those two years and he will have to apply for the permit again.
The idea came from area resident Catherine Merlo, who got involved in the dispute just this week.
"The two-year permit is a good solution. It allows residents to watch and make sure (their) concerns are addressed. It (also) allows the company to do business," she said.
But other neighbors were not happy to see the project approved at all.
"We felt the planning commission let us down. They chose a quick fix instead of the correct fix. We are left to police this project," said neighborhood resident Carol Bender.
Kelly Francisco, an attorney for Polhamus, thanked the commission for considering the project.
Both Polhamus and the neighbors said they would consider appealing the commission's decision to the Kern County Board of Supervisors.
During the hearing, neighbors and the developers' representative dueled back and forth over who invaded the other party's turf first.
"This is clearly a case of urban encroachment on agricultural land uses," said project spokeswoman Darcy Larman.
She said homeowners chose to purchase property close to the agricultural land, the traffic mess at Hageman Road, Allen Road and Santa Fe Way and the industrial land her client has his business on.
Bender made the point that, despite the fact the property was zoned industrial, Polhamus brought his lowbed trucking business in after the homes were built.
"We didn't encroach on the plant. The plant would encroach on us," said Tom Smethurst, who bought his home in the area in the 1990s.
