SEATTLE (Recycling Monster): The Citrus Heights Planning Commission on Tuesday voted 4-3 to forward a recommendation to the City Council regarding the approval of various amendments to the city code.
The commission’s vote during an Aug. 13 Planning Commission meeting came after significant discussion regarding proposed amendments, including a proposed ban on any new recycling centers in the city limits. Other proposals included amending setback requirements for two-story accessory dwelling units, a proposal to remove distance requirements from schools, parks, hospitals, and places of worship for businesses selling alcohol, updates to required security measures that businesses selling alcohol must implement, and lifting the requirement for use permits for establishments selling alcohol that close by or before 10 p.m.
The Citrus Heights Planning Division presented the proposed changes to the commission and said reviews are conducted annually of the City Code in an attempt to ensure it continues to meet the city’s strategic objectives, which includes blight reduction and beautification.
A city staff report cited blight as a primary concern revolving around the city’s four current recycling centers. The report said “observations have shown the areas surrounding the centers are littered with abandoned shopping carts, have increased calls for services in the vicinity and other blight inducing activities.”
A local recycling center owner who spoke during the public hearing portion of the Planning Commission meeting expressed concern that a future ban on new recycling centers would not allow for the addition of new, high-tech recycling centers to be established locally. The owner said her business has acquired a grant from California that would allow for the development of a new recycling center within the next six months that would address some of the blight concerns.
An initial motion to pass all proposed amendments, made by Commissioner Tom Scheeler, received only one other vote of support from Commissioner James Remick. An alternate motion made by Commissioner Marcelle Flowers to approve all proposed amendments, with the exclusion of a ban on new recycling centers, led to much confusion from several commissioners and city staff. After more discussion, several commissioners requested to change their previous vote. As a result, the commission was forced to do a re-vote.
In the third round of voting, Chair Natalie Price and Commissioners Flowers, Kelsey Nelson, and Andrew Van Duker voted in favor of passing the motion originally made by Flowers.
The passage of the motion on the proposed ordinance amendments will be forwarded to the City Council for final approval. The city confirmed via email Wednesday that the current regulations for recycling centers will not change.
Courtesy: www.citrusheightssentinel.com
