Citing not enough time to meet with local officials to
investigate different locations or reorganized plans for a proposed
flea market near the Hollister airport, Robert Rodriguez
representative engineer Matt Kelley asked for more time to discuss
the location’s options during Tuesday’s board of supervisors
meeting.
”
We would like to ask for a continuation to a future date so that
all the supervisors are satisfied that they have been able to work
with us to make this project satisfy these concerns,
”
Kelley said.
Citing not enough time to meet with local officials to investigate different locations or reorganized plans for a proposed flea market near the Hollister airport, Robert Rodriguez representative engineer Matt Kelley asked for more time to discuss the location’s options during Tuesday’s board of supervisors meeting.
“We would like to ask for a continuation to a future date so that all the supervisors are satisfied that they have been able to work with us to make this project satisfy these concerns,” Kelley said.
The board agreed unanimously to push back discussion to Feb. 22, giving the project organizers more than a month to find a solution for the negative backlash of the project. Those opposed to the project cite safety issues due to the nearby location of the airport, its possible effect on the airport’s future funding and the lack of compliance with the industrial zoning of the area.
The delay in a board decision was the project’s second after Rodriguez filed an appeal of the October planning commission decision that rejected plans for the flea market on 1771 San Felipe Road. The commission’s main concerns were the location to the Hollister Municipal Airport and traffic on San Felipe Road. It was Rodriguez’s second application for a flea market in a little less than a year.
Rodriquez filed the appeal stating the decision was made on “unsubstantiated testimony”.
The board originally pushed back its decision to allow for Rodriguez to meet with supervisors and address concerns to clean up and security at the projects site. But because of timing, they were never able to meet.
However, Supervisor Margie Barrios said she met with Rodriguez and Kelley but had nothing to report back to the board because she wanted to meet with the representatives from the Federal Aviation Administration and Caltrans before she came to an opinion.
According to testimony from December’s meeting, a portion of the project will rest inside the airport’s runway protection zone, which sets a limit to the number of people in the area. The opposition fears that a violation of the zone could put funding for the airport in limbo, as airport officials are trying to expand on its size.
Supervisors did hear nearly an hour of opinions from people that both supported the project and opposed it, echoing December’s public hearing. Supervisors heard brief comments by Airport Director Mike Chambless, city Councilman Doug Emerson and developer Ken Lindsay.
Most speakers opposed the project, describing worries about an increase in birds to the location because of trash and safety issues.
The board briefly discussed trying to find an alternative area for the project, calling for help from the city council and the Economic Development Corp. of San Benito County.
Rodriguez said he was willing to listen to other opportunities but he did believe that he should be able to have the project on his own land.
“I’ve complied with all the rules set forth by the county, for people to say that it’s not consistent – it’s very disturbing,” he said. “I’m playing by the rules.”
