COMMERCE : Council Supports Refuse Facility

The City Council last week unanimously upheld the Planning Commission’s approval of a waste transfer station on Bandini Boulevard, despite protests from residents who say the project will increase pollution, health hazards and truck traffic.

When it opens early next year, the Rail-Cycle facility will process residential and commercial trash from cities in the Los Angeles Basin by recycling the refuse or transferring it by rail to a landfill in San Bernardino County.

About 300 people packed the City Council chamber Tuesday for a hearing that lasted nearly 2 1/2 hours. More than a dozen residents told the council that the environmental costs of the project will outweigh economic benefits being touted by city and Rail-Cycle officials. A citizen’s group had appealed the Planning Commission’s Dec. 9 decision to grant a conditional-use permit for the transfer station, but the City Council rejected the appeal.

“This will be devastating to the people of Commerce,” said Anthony Thorpe, who filed the appeal. “Even in the face of the people, they (council members) still have the arrogance to continue with the plan. It was absolutely predictable.”

An estimated 1,200 daily vehicle trips in and out of city will be necessary, with trucks bringing as much as 4,200 tons of solid waste into the largely industrial city each day, according to Rail-Cycle Project Director Stu Clark.

The transfer station, which will be constructed on Bandini Boulevard between Eastern and Garfield avenues, is a venture of Waste Management of North America Inc. and the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway, which owns the land on which the facility will be built.

Council members, who voted 5-0 to reject the appeal, said they were convinced that the 71 conditions applied to the project will ensure protection against environmental hazards and traffic snarls.

For example, Rail-Cycle must transfer nonrecyclable materials within 24 hours of arrival at the plant and must give the city detailed records of the types and numbers of vehicles traveling to and from the facility. Council members also approved the formation of an oversight committee of representatives from the Planning and Traffic commissions, the Industrial Council and two residents.

Council members said opponents failed to recognize the project’s benefits, including the estimated $2 million in fees the Rail-Cycle operation will generate for the city’s general fund, plus up to an additional $50,000 specifically for community service projects. The revenue will be needed as the state continues to cut funding to municipalities, council members argued.

“This (project) is going to be a help to the people of Commerce,” Councilman Artemio Navarro said. “Every facility will have some type of problems, but I’m sure we will be able to deal with them.”

Clark said at least 35% of the 130 to 150 jobs created will go to Commerce residents, and the transfer station will help Commerce and other area cities comply with a state law requiring all cities to recycle at least 25% of their waste by 1995.

Clark also said there is strong support in the community for the transfer station. Rail-Cycle officials presented the City Council with more than 2,200 cards signed by residents who favor the plan.