Editor’s Note: To read a history of the John Smith Landfill and background on the county’s development plans, click here.
San Benito County Board of Supervisors Chair Jerry Muenzer, who represents District 4, and District 1 Supervisor Margie Barrios, and Hollister Fire Chief Mike O’Connor, listened to the concerns and frustrations and answered questions of a group of about 45 residents of the area affected by the upcoming proposed zoning change of the County’s property on John Smith Road, to allow the creation of a Resource Recovery Park (RRP) which would be a combination of businesses engaged in reclaiming materials which had formerly been disposed of as “garbage” and dumped into the landfill.
This was the first of two meetings being held at Immaculate Conception Hall in Tres Pinos, with subgroups of the Board of Supervisors to allow extended discussion, rather than than limitation of a three minute presentation which is the norm at Supervisors meetings. The second meeting is Tuesday, January 28 at 6:30pm. District 5 Supervisor Jaime De La Cruz and District 3 Supervisor Robert Rivas will be attending. This format avoids a quorum of 3 Supervisors being present at a meeting, which would require public noticing and more formal procedures.
BOS Chair Muenzer told the attendees that the project was conceived as a potential income producer for the county and to help the county meet it’s obligation to reduce input in to the landfill.
Several attendees voiced their frustration that they have been trying to get answers to their questions for four years and feel they are not being heard by the Board of Supervisors.
Some of the questions and responses were, “Why there, on John Smith Road?”
Supervisor Muenzer responded that the availability of methane on the site coming from the landfill was a factor. He said that it is land owned by the county which is another factor.
There was concern about the run-off from the site. Sup Barrios noted that there is on-going testing and diversion. It was reported by some of the residents that the runoff is not being read by the location of the test holes that monitor the site.
Supervisor Muenzer addressed the claim that 400 large trucks would be using the road each day. He explained that in the report it said that in 20 years as it was built-out, there may be 433 vehicle trips which is trips made and not number of vehicles. He explained that someone going to work there and then leaving and returning would be making three vehicle trips. each time a car goes down that road it is a vehicle trip.
Some spoke against the county moving forward with a zoning change for a project they did not know made economic sense. It was noted that the Feasibility Study which had been done on the project was out of date by now and would need to be re-done.
Some attendees spoke in favor of the idea of a Resource Recovery Park, but not at that location.
There was discussion of placing something on the ballot through the initiative process to let San Benito County voters decide whether to build the RRP.
There was concern that the Supervisors had not gone out and studied other Resource Recovery Parks in the area, such as the one in Monterey County, or in San Leandro.
Supervisor Muenzer said that he had been to the one in Monterey County.
It was suggested that it did not make sense to haul the recycling all the way out to John Smith Road and then have to haul it back out to the major roads, that perhaps there could be a location closer to the major roads.
One resident said that he had heard a County employee say that there was $8 million to re-do John Smith Road and he wondered where that money might be now.
There were concerns about the trash that blows off of the trucks, run-off from the landfill, air quality monitoring, the wear and tear on the road, safety concerns of many large trucks using the roads near residential areas.
There were questions about why San Jose’s refuse is being hauled to John Smith. Supervisor Muenzer answered that it was intended as a way to reduce local fees.
It was asked, “How much has the County spent to date?” The Supervisors answered $350,000.00, but there was some question of whether this was actually the total. They said that they would research this.
The Supervisors were thanked for their willingness to take part in the sometimes contentious meeting. Supervisor Chair Muenzer thanked the attendees for taking the time to be involved.