.: Print Version :. Editions of the North County Times Serving 
                  San Diego and Riverside CountiesTuesday, January 29, 
                  2008Contact UsArchive








             


            Tuesday, January 29, 2008
            Last modified Monday, January 28, 2008 11:34 PM PST




            Planning Commission denies plan for Oceanside concrete plant

            By: MARGA KELLOGG - North County Times 
            OCEANSIDE - Two hours of emotional testimony, mostly in opposition, 
            ended Monday night with the Planning Commission denying plans by 
            Robertson's Ready Mix to build a concrete batch plant on Industry 
            Street.

            The 5-2 vote came as at least 100 people packed City Hall carrying 
            signs and wearing buttons that read "No Robertson's." More than 25 
            speakers stepped to the podium, and all but four told the commission 
            that the concrete plant was not as environmentally friendly as 
            Robertson's was trying to paint it, that it flies in sharp contrast 
            to goals of beautifying and reshaping the Oceanside Boulevard 
            corridor and that approving it would be a step backward for the 
            city. 
            "This is a story about the fate of our city's namesake boulevard," 
            said Ed Burns, president of the Loma Alta Neighborhood Association, 
            a 200-member group that has long opposed the plant. "We understand 
            that change takes time, but the time is now to take the first step 
            toward change. A concrete plant is a step back from that vision. I 
            think that's the important message here tonight."

            Commissioners concurred, saying that the changes the Corona-based 
            company made to its plans over the last year, including a buffer of 
            native vegetation between the plant and nearby Loma Alta Creek, and 
            basins to contain and recycle all water on the property, were not 
            enough to ensure the plant wouldn't harm the creek.

            More importantly, they agreed that the plant didn't fit with the 
            vision that has been crafted for the area over the last year by the 
            council-appointed, 15-member Oceanside Boulevard Vision Task Force. 
            The task force would like to see the industrial businesses along 
            Industry Street phased out and replaced by a mix of businesses and 
            residences much like the Cedros District in Solana Beach.

            Commissioner Stan Bertheaud said that even though the present zoning 
            is industrial, the commission should be thinking about the future.

            And Commission chairman Dennis Martinek said he didn't feel the 
            plant "was consistent with our long-range plan." Also, he said, he 
            had some "serious environmental concerns related to it being 
            adjacent to the creek," specifically concerns about what would 
            happen during a major flood.

            After the meeting, Bernie Rhinerson, a consultant hired by 
            Robertson's, said that Robertson's will appeal the decision to the 
            City Council.

            "I think what was most confusing to the commission was the Oceanside 
            Boulevard Task Force vision," said Rhinerson. "The point that I 
            tried to make is that the task force needs to focus on Oceanside 
            Boulevard. This is Industry Street, and it's unrealistic to think 
            that they can ever move hundreds of businesses and jobs off that 
            street. They should instead be looking at high quality, well 
            designed projects."

            Rhinerson described the opposition's argument as an emotional one 
            and said that, contrary to testimony, all the studies show the plant 
            would not hurt Loma Alta Creek or Bucaneer Beach.

            "I understand on behalf of residents that when you hear 'concrete 
            plant,' you just automatically react negatively to it," he said.

            Robertson's is seeking to build the plant on the north side of Loma 
            Alta Creek, just east of Foussat Road. The land, which is now 
            vacant, slopes southwest toward the creek and is surrounded by a 
            number of industrial businesses, including an older concrete plant.

            Robertson's cleared its first hurdle with the city in October 2006, 
            when its first proposal was approved 4-3 by the Oceanside Planning 
            Commission, despite objections by residents in the Loma Alta 
            neighborhood. That decision was quickly appealed to the City Council 
            by then-Councilwoman Shari Mackin.

            In February 2007 - before the council could hear the matter - 
            Robertson's officials withdrew their proposal, saying they wanted to 
            work on the environmental aspects of the plant to meet residents' 
            concerns.

            The company's proposal states that the plant would process about 
            1,200 cubic yards of concrete per day, would have an enclosed 
            storage building for aggregate, a 12,000-gallon, above-ground diesel 
            fuel storage tank, a batch plant and an office building.

            The rest of the land would include two detention basins to catch 
            stormwater runoff, parking and landscaping. Rhinerson said all 
            concrete would be mixed indoors - and all trucks would be loaded 
            indoors, as well --- to limit noise, dust and other pollutants.

            In the updated plan, Robertson's added a drain inlet to capture 
            stormwater runoff from part of a driveway in the northeastern corner 
            of the lot and a 50-foot buffer of land between the cement plant and 
            Loma Alta Creek.

            Contact staff writer Marga Kellogg at (760) 901-4067 or 
            mkellogg@nctimes.com.