Tortilla Producer Pleads No Contest in Canoga Park Odor-Noise Case

A Canoga Park food manufacturer that has been the target of bitter neighborhood complaints pleaded no contest Thursday in Los Angeles Municipal Court to four counts of violating noise and odor regulations.

In return for the plea by Mission Foods Corp., a producer of tortillas and other Mexican specialties, city prosecutors agreed to dismiss five other counts when the company is sentenced March 24.

Mission Foods could be assessed fines and penalties of up to $1,700 for each of the misdemeanor counts involved in the no-contest plea, for a maximum of $6,800. Conviction on all nine counts could have brought fines and penalties of $15,300.

City and company officials stressed that they are still working out a probation agreement, which also must be endorsed by the court before the plea bargain is final.

Deputy City Atty. Vincent B. Sato said he was willing to dismiss most of the counts because of Mission’s efforts to solve its noise and odor problems. “After the charges were filed, they were very cooperative, and I thought that mitigated the fine that I would recommend,” Sato said.

‘On the Right Track’

Francisco De La Torre, president of Mission Foods, said the plea agreement “is an amicable solution, and we think we’re on the right track . . . to satisfy the neighbors’ concerns.”

Neighbors of the plant at 7920 Deering Ave. had long contended with the smell of burning tortillas, the noise of machinery and flour dustings occasionally so heavy that “it looked like snow in August,” as one neighbor put it.

The nine-count criminal complaint, filed last August, was based on noise and odor episodes that occurred from January to July, 1987.

When odor problems persisted after charges were filed, the South Coast Air Quality Management District cited more odor violations and in October issued an abatement order. That order required the company to take a variety of remedial steps, including reducing its operating hours and meeting once a month with neighbors.

Problem Greathly Reduced

Since the city and air district acted, the odor problem has been greatly reduced and there has been some progress on the noise, according to Bruce C. Miller, a neighbor of the plant and outgoing president of the North Canoga Park Residents Assn.

“All we want them to do is make it livable,” said Miller. “I don’t think that’s unreasonable.”

A company official said last summer that Mission had spent about $87,000 to curb noise and odors. De La Torre declined Thursday to give an updated estimate.

De La Torre blamed the problems on his company’s growth and the lack of a “buffer area to separate the industrial zone and the residential area.”

He said Mission is looking for an alternate site and hopes to begin moving equipment in a year or two.