FILLMORE : Council to Consider Gravel Plant Lease

The Fillmore City Council will consider a request by a gravel processing plant to operate south of the Santa Clara River directly across from the site of a proposed development.

The council is scheduled to act on the issue Tuesday.

An equestrian facility occupies about one-third of a 38-acre site owned by the city, across the river from Fillmore along California 23.

The gravel crushing and screening facility proposed by Charles GoFourth and Don Marcotte would be at the east end of the property.

The area is zoned as open space, and a residential development has been proposed across the river from the site, according to the city’s Planning Department.

When council members first heard the request at their July 24 meeting, they agreed that the operation could benefit Fillmore by clearing the Santa Clara river channel of sand and gravel that have built up over the years.

But the unsightly appearance of such operations, and the dust and traffic they generate may prevent the council from granting the requested 10-year lease, council members said.

“No matter what they do, they can’t solve the problems of dust and aesthetics,” said Councilman Roger Campbell.

“I can’t think of any way the plant could be screened from view.”

There would also be increased traffic through existing residential areas, since trucks would cross the river to use roads on the north side of the river, Campbell said.

City Manager Roy Payne said the applicants had not received approval from county planning and flood control agencies.