Marty: Good idea, wrong spot for flea market

The toughest ticket in town last week was for Tuesday
afternoon’s board of supervisors’ session
– it was SRO (standing room only) with the overflow in the
hallway where they could not see or hear anything. The total was
probably more than 135 attendees.
The toughest ticket in town last week was for Tuesday afternoon’s board of supervisors’ session – it was SRO (standing room only) with the overflow in the hallway where they could not see or hear anything. The total was probably more than 135 attendees.

The “event” was the appeal of the planning commission’s 4-1 vote denying a use permit to local businessman Robert Rodriguez to operate a flea market at 1370 Shore Road. This appeal was his last chance for this permit. Mr. Rodriguez had also applied for a rodeo and music permit, but withdrew that request the morning of the hearing. I have friends who are on both sides of the argument.

Driving from Dunneville, the proposed site is on the right side four-tenths of a mile after you pass Lovers Lane; it’s about halfway between the 4-way stop and Frazier Lake Road. 

More than 2,000 people, many from the Hispanic community, had signed a petition supporting the appeal.  Meanwhile, more than 200 people, most living close to proposed event site had sent a letter in opposition.  Sixty people spoke on the issue.

The proposed flea market would have 50 booths, support facilities and parking for over 200 vehicles. It would run from February to November, Saturdays and Sundays, 8 AM to 8 PM or sunset, whichever came first. The traffic report estimated it would draw 400 shoppers a day, with 50 vendors and 10 employees. Access is from Shore Road.

The most serious opposition came from neighbors concerned about noise and traffic. I don’t live in that area, nor do I have any special attachment to flea markets, but what’s the good of writing an opinion column if you’re not willing to give an opinion on the tough ones – so here goes.

The operator can control the noise of a flea market if the county ensures regulations are enforced.  However, I have a feeling the request for the rodeo-music permit will be coming back, it’s certainly in the business plan. That much noise would be another matter.

What’s beyond the operator’s control in the current proposal is the traffic impact. Although the applicant’s traffic engineer says it all works, my personal experience and the county’s previous planning history clashes with that testimony. 

Even if the site drew only 200 vehicles – I believe there will be many more on busy days – they cannot easily enter and exit through a 20-foot-wide gravel driveway narrower than a two-lane road. Additionally, those entering will have to slow down to make the turn and half will have to cross traffic; the same goes for vehicles leaving. Arriving vehicles will also have to deal with the change of surface, stops for traffic control and/or parking fees. Shore Road will immediately back up and gridlock in both directions with frustrated drivers and people parking along the sides. We know where that leads.

A three home development there had to install $397,000 in road improvements for just those reasons. A venue that has hundreds of vehicles entering and exiting busy Shore Road on a regular basis should have extensive acceleration, deceleration and turn lanes as a minimum. Based on that alone, I believe the board should deny the appeal.

The issue is still on the agenda, the applicant will present a rebuttal Tuesday afternoon.  

I hope that the supervisors will not just say “no” – I hope they say “no, but” and put the staff and economic development to work. They should help Mr. Rodriguez locate and secure a suitable site, pressuring the state if necessary, to get Bolado Park priced right and available to support his vision including a rodeo and concert area. The right location is out there, unfortunately, this is not it.  

Marty Richman is a Hollister resident. Reach him at cw*****@ya***.com.