Residents protest Associated Concrete plans to relocate
Despite objections by some residents, the City Council approved a zoning amendment for a 2.94-acre piece of property at the northwest corner of Mast Street and Railroad Avenue, paving the way for Associated Concrete to relocate from its existing facility at 130 E. Main Ave. to an industrial district.
“Relocation of the longtime Morgan Hill business to the southern portion of town would allow residential development in downtown to proceed and eliminates a use that is not compatible with the Downtown Plan,” according to Community Development Director Kathleen Molloy Previsich. The amendment would make concrete batching plants a permitted use on the site and allow silos up to 70-ft. high.
Molloy Previsich said the zoning amendment had been approved by the Planning Commission with some modifications. Originally, truck traffic was restricted to non-residential streets, but the Commission revised the amendment to allow trucks to travel on residential streets for residential deliveries and changed it so that the portion of Church Street between Mast Street and San Pedro Avenue would not be considered a residential street for the purpose of the amendment.
Two residents in the area who are opposed to the plan complained to the council.
Sam Laub who, with his wife, lives on Mast Street, informed the council they have been property owners in Morgan Hill since 1978 and have “stuck with the city in tough times and good times.” While he agreed with the purpose of moving the concrete business out of the downtown area, he did not believe it belonged on Mast Street, which he noted, has developed into a nice residential neighborhood. A concrete batch plant, he said, would not be appropriate for the area.
“Its relocation from downtown is commendable, but the selection is inappropriate,” Laub said.
Laub said some of the zoning conditions would be difficult for the city to enforce, particularly travel by heavy trucks on the residential streets in the area.
“Can the city enforce this? Can the owner supervise his drivers so they don’t use the residential streets?” asked Laub. He added residents in the areas of Mast Street and San Pedro Avenue and Church Street, who consider their areas largely residential, may be surprised to learn of the zoning designation change.
Brian Bradshaw told the council his machine shop is located on Mast Street and the cement plant would be “300 yards from my front door.”
“If you change the environment in the area, it could disrupt my business,” he said. He predicted there would be lots of dust flying from the plant and worried the trucks would destroy the roads in the area. He also fretted that cars would suffer windshield damage due to rocks flying from the trucks.
“Five to 10 years from now, the roads will be totally destroyed. … We’ll all pay for it at the auto body shop,” Bradshaw remarked.
Molloy Previsich told the council a dust management plan would be required and said Anthony Goularte, owner of Associated Concrete, indicated “any replacement facility is going to be cleaner.”
She added, there is “no absolute prohibition,” of truck traffic on residential streets and said certain stipulations in the amendment “would give us a tool in the future, should we need it. We don’t envision it will be an enforcement headache.”
“Is this an appropriate location for the business, and can we take care of all these concerns?” Councilman Greg Sellers defined the two issues raised before the council by the residents. “I think we can do that with this one.”
Councilman Steve Tate indicated he understood the concerns of Laub and Bradshaw, but observed, “The trucks use city roads today, and I don’t see the problem occurring. I believe it is the best location we have for the business.”
Councilman Larry Carr underlined his confidence in Goularte. “That he is very concerned and very active in the community provides a level of comfort for me. … We’ll have the necessary controls as well as a property and business owner who’ll do their best to meet the needs of the community.”
Rose Meily covers City Hall for the Morgan Hill Times. Reach her at 779-4106 or by e-mail at rm****@*************es.com
