VCAC circulates petition against metal plant

June 17, 2009

The Valencia County Action Committee (VCAC) and Rio Communities Association are circulating a petition opposing the construction of a scrap metal plant in the Rio Grande Industrial Park, approximately a mile south of Rio Communities.

“If you could take one or two of these pages and get all of your neighbors to sign them, we’d really appreciate it,” George Moscona, president of the association, told a group of about 40 Rio Communities residents at a meeting of the association last night.

Nearly everyone present took a petition sheet, with several taking five or more sheets.

“It’s an expression rather than a formal petition,” Moscona said.

The Valencia County Planning and Zoning Commission approved in April a preliminary site plan for the metal recycling plant, which will be owned and operated by American Iron & Metal.

Moscona, who refers to the operation as a “metal smashing plant,” said he hopes to have 1,000 signatures from county residents prior to the scheduled July 8 public hearing on the appeal of the commission’s decision.

Two members of VCAC are the two citizens who filed the appeal — Alice Torwirt and Joe Rizzo.

Rizzo continues to publicly question why the county decided to move the public hearing from its original date of June 10 to July 8 when he’ll be out of town on a planned trip.

“The county commission originally thought they were going to do it on June 10, when I’m here,” he said. “But they have since decided to put it off until July 8, when I can’t be here.”

Rizzo has requested that the county further delay the public hearing so he can attend. He hasn’t heard back from the county.

The county manager said in a recent Valencia County News-Bulletin article that the county is having staffing issues and needs the extra time to provide proper public notice:

The county commission will hear the appeal on Wednesday, July 8; the meeting starts at 5 p.m. The appeal hearing had originally been scheduled for June 10, but due to the recent departure of a key staff member, county regional planner James Aranda, and to ensure that proper and sufficient notice was given to all parties, County Manager Eric Zamora said the county opted to reschedule the hearing.

Related documents:

(Valencia! chose not to include a third page being distributed by VCAC because it contains what might be factual inaccuracies.)

UPDATE (6/18/09): Valencia County Manager Eric Zamora said tonight in a conversation with Valencia! that the public hearing for the metal recycling plant might be postponed at Joe Rizzo’s request because “he’s probably got the right.” Zamora said he will meet with county attorney Adren Nance about it.

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