By MICHAEL RODRIGUEZ
Managing Editor
editor@sbnewspaper.com
The City of San Benito Zoning Board of Adjustments approved Thursday, July 14, a conditional use permit for a business specializing in the open storage of scrap or used materials.
City officials also confirmed that the approval does not have to go before the city commission.
According to a copy of the permit, obtained by the News via an open records request, its issuance was subject to a recorded subdivision plat to meet the requirements of subdivision regulations. City of San Benito Zoning Director Mayra Benedetti said that the company, identified in the permit as AM-VIL Steel Holding L.P., must first allow for the recording of the subdivision’s final plat to conclude before attempting to meet three stipulations identifying specific conditions.
The stipulations are as follows:
1. Provide an eight ft. high solid screening fence along the property perimeter with the required fence permit.
2. Provide landscaping in accordance with the zoning ordinance.
3. Provide off-street paved parking spaces in accordance with the zoning ordinance.
These conditions were set by the zoning board due to the business use conflicting with its location’s commercial district, which is General Retail Business (C-2). Benedetti said the business should instead be located in an industrial zone.
Once the stipulations are met, however, the company may then obtain a business license followed by a final inspection of the property, currently located off of North Business 77 near Iowa Gardens.
Benedetti described the business as a collection and transfer station facility that collects scrap iron, steel, aluminum cans, structural beams, junk cans and other metals which will be compacted into cubes, packaged and shipped to Mexico.
Sandra Duran of Avanza International Business Consultants, who acted as the applicant for the company, referred to the business as a steel classification center that will provide 25 jobs in the city. “It’s nothing that has to do with recycling. Nothing will be processed and it’s not heavy industrial,” Duran said.
To see this story in print, pick up a copy of the July 20 edition of the San Benito News. Or view our E-Edition by clicking here.
2 comments
Why the secrecy in regards to the owners identity and the requirement for an FOI request? What happen to “Open Government”?
What type of jobs are these 25 jobs and exactly what real benefit does the City realize from this type of business.
I was hoping it was a recycling center and not another junk-yard!
Mr. Rodriguez: I agree. We should have Open Government with no hidden agendas. If this is a junkyard, these will not be high paying jobs. We should be aiming just a little higher, don’t you think?