County planning commissioners have denied a use permit for a
proposal to run separate rodeo and flea market operations on 65
acres off Shore Road.
County planning commissioners have denied a use permit for a proposal to run separate rodeo and flea market operations on 65 acres off Shore Road.
Planning commissioners denied the use permit in a 4-1 vote Wednesday, with Commissioner Robert Scattini approving of the proposal. Decisions by the planning commission are final unless appealed within 10 days to the board of supervisors, which would set a date for such a hearing, said county Planning Director Art Henriques.
Opponents of the proposals for 1370 Shore Road packed the County Administration Building chambers at the commission meeting and largely outnumbered those in favor of the project. Residents primarily complained about concerns surrounding traffic, but also expressed such worries over noise, dust, crime and the ability for emergency responders to gain access.
Albert Vais was among the many opponents and noted how applicant Robert Rodriguez is a “good, personal friend of mine.” But he also believes the idea could potentially affect more than just traffic and noise levels for neighboring properties.
“We feel this project is going to devalue our property values, more than the economy already has devalued our property,” he said.
Though four of five commissioners agreed with the sentiments of Vais and many others who spoke, Scattini said he OK’d the use permit because the planning staff had recommended an approval and he felt the applicant had put together a solid plan to mitigate concerns such as traffic and noise. Scattini acknowledged he was “a little concerned” about traffic but said Rodriguez, who could not be reached by the Free Lance before press time, had come up with some “good ideas” to alleviate problems.
“I think, really, the commissioners were intimidated by the number of people against it there,” Scattini said.
Commission Chairman Richard Bettencourt, however, at one point told the crowd their level of excitement wouldn’t play into the outcome.
“The clapping isn’t going to make a difference in our decision,” he said.
That area is mostly surrounded by properties designated as agricultural productive, while it is used primarily for crops and pastureland, according to a county staff report.
The seasonal rodeo would run weekends from April 1 to Nov. 1, while the flea market would operate from February to November on Saturdays and Sundays. Neither event would be open past 9 p.m. as the applicant did not plan to install lighting on the property.
See the Free Lance on Tuesday for the full story.
