The developer of a proposed flea market and rodeo off Shore Road has appealed to the San Benito County Board of Supervisors after the planning commission recently rejected a use permit.
Robert Rodriguez has submitted the appeal, which could go to the board of supervisors Jan. 26 at the earliest, said Planning Director Art Henriques.
Planning commissioners voted 4-1 on Dec. 2 to deny the use permit proposed by Rodriguez for the two adjacent businesses on 65 acres outside of Hollister, but the applicant met the deadline to appeal to the county board within 10 days of that decision.
The commission sided with many opponents who expressed concerns about such issues as traffic, noise, dust and crime. Planning Commissioner Robert Scattini had the lone vote in favor of granting the permit and contended Rodriguez had compiled a suitable plan to mitigate potential problems.
Henriques described the planning department's responsibility in the appeal and said the meeting would include opportunities for public speakers and the applicant to state their opinions before board debate, and a possible vote.
"The staff is required to go through an analysis of what was presented to the commission and how the commission made its decision," Henriques said, "and determine if there was a problem with any of that."
Henriques also noted how the staff will compile new reports on the matter and provide notices to appropriate residents, including those who took part in the commission hearing.
The two businesses would operate at 1370 Shore Road. The rodeo would run weekends from April 1 to Nov. 1. The flea market would operate from February to November, according to a staff report.
The rodeo facility would include an arena, portable bleachers, livestock pens, a live music stage, a concession stand, a food truck and portable toilets, according to the report. The flea market would entail 50 vendors, toilets, a food truck and a beverage stand.
With the main concern being traffic on the rural road, the applicant estimated about 400 shoppers per day at the flea market events and 300 per day at the rodeos, according to a county report. Though the market and rodeo usually would not overlap, it is possible considering the timelines. A study found that the events could add 684 added trips during those peak periods.
The county was set to require that the applicant prepare traffic monitoring prior to the first event and share those results before a permit would be issued for a second season. It also would require hiring of the California Highway Patrol for the first flea market and rodeo to ensure safety.
For the full story see the Free Lance on Tuesday.
Kollin Kosmicki Kollin Kosmicki is editor of the Free Lance and Pinnacle. Reach him at 831-637-5566 ext. 337 or editor@freelancenews.com.
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