The developer of a proposal to operate two separate business
operations on Shore Road has withdrawn one of the ideas, for a
rodeo complex, while supervisors at a public hearing that included
about 60 speakers delayed their decision on the application due to
the lengthy dialogue from residents at Tuesday’s afternoon
meeting.
The developer of a proposal to operate two separate business operations on Shore Road has withdrawn one of the ideas, for a rodeo complex, while supervisors at a public hearing that included about 60 speakers delayed their decision on the application due to the lengthy dialogue from residents at Tuesday’s afternoon meeting.
Planning commissioners in December had rejected Robert Rodriguez’s application in a 4-1 vote for neighboring rodeo and flea market businesses at his 1370 Shore Road property, but the applicant appealed the decision to the county supervisors, who heard local residents’ views on the proposal before putting off their decision until a 2:30 p.m. meeting Feb. 2.
About 60 residents took to the podium – a slight majority in favor of the proposal – and the heightened public interest level led to about 30 locals overflowing into the lobby of the County Administration Building where the chambers hold 100 people.
Before that occurred, however, Rodriguez on Tuesday morning submitted a verbal, but official, withdrawal of the application’s rodeo complex proposal, a planning official announced at the meeting. The rodeo facility was set to include an arena, portable bleachers, livestock pens, a live music stage (which remains in the proposal), a concession stand, a food truck and portable toilets, according to the report. The plan had been to have the rodeo run weekends from April 1 to Nov. 1 and to operate the flea market from February to November, according to a staff report.
Though it’s unclear to what extent, that withdrawal should lessen the anticipated impacts, such as traffic control and necessary improvements, while supervisors are considering the appeal.
Those issues were among many that came up at the public hearing Tuesday. Residents against the proposal expressed concern about such issues as traffic, noise, dust and crime. One area resident noted how when he recently built two homes in the area and refurbished two others, he was forced to pay $397,000 in lane improvements, while Rodriguez at this point isn’t being required to fund any changes.
Another local against the proposal during the public hearing confronted the common criticism of such project opponents as herself – that they take the perception of “Not In My Back Yard.”
“This is a back yard issue,” said Marie Para, a Shore Road resident. “I don’t want it in my back yard, and you wouldn’t want it in your back yard.”
Supportive residents largely followed the same theme, that there are lacking outlets – especially with times being so tough – for San Benito County families.
Rodriguez himself, meanwhile, noted how the business’ creation of jobs would offer a positive economic boost for the county. His plans for the flea market call for entailing 50 vendors, toilets, a food truck and a beverage stand. The activity would amount to about 100 jobs in vending, cleanup and parking.
