County set to hear appeal on industrial subdivision

The Colusa County Board of Supervisors is scheduled Tuesday to hear the appeal on an industrial subdivision in the south of the county approved by the Planning Commission in September.

Mike Adams, owner of Adams Trucking, has proposed dividing about 159 acres into 16 parcels ranging from 1.7 acres to 30.8 acres, county documents state.

The property, located at the northwest corner of Grevie and County Line roads, six miles south of Arbuckle and bordering Old Highway 99W, is zoned industrial, according to county documents.

The hearing is slated for 11 a.m.

The Planning Commission approved the tentative subdivision map on a 4-0 vote Sept. 12.

That decision is being challenged by neighboring property owner Elaine Rominger, who believes the county has failed to adequately address potential impacts from the variety of uses allowed in the industrial zoning.

"We believe Mr. Adams has every right to develop his property, but we don't want to be negatively affected by that development," Rominger said at the time.

Adams has told county officials that he has no immediate development plans for the property, but needed to divide the parcels to improve financing options for the future.

That lack of specific planning is one of Rominger's concerns.

County officials "have a reasonable idea of what (could) be sited there, and with that information they could develop specific mitigations," Rominger said following the commission vote.

The property is home to Adams Trucking and a seed oil processing operation — both on the northern end of the property.

The county planning staff recommended the project and has reported that it is consistent with the zoning, the terms of the General Plan, and the goals of economic development.

"If it results in him bringing in ag-related industry, it will bring in more jobs," Planning Director Steven Hackney said just prior to the commission vote.

"What Adams wants to do with this property is a good thing for the county," Hackney said.

A familiar foe of Adams and the county, Rominger, the former Woodland mayor and former state LAFCO president, at one time sued the county over the original plans of putting in industrial zoning in the largely agricultural area, where Adams ultimately located.

That suit was settled after the county re-addressed issues involving Rominger-owned property, and reworked many of the conditions attached to the use of the industrial property.

County officials also note that the General Plan has specific language designed to protect neighboring interests, so whatever Adams ultimately chooses to do with the property will come under specific review, again.

Rominger, noting the issues that came up during the legal battle, is not particularly trusting that the county will protect those interests later.

She wants the protection written into the project now.

In other business, the board will consider the appointment of former Williams City Councilman Eddie Johnson to the county Planning Commission.