Council allows Chico Scrap Metal to stay on East 20th Street

LOS ANGELES (Scrap Monster): The City Council has allowed a Chico, California scrap metal firm to continue operating at its current site, amidst protests from neighborhood communities. Chico Scrap Metal (CMS) is being granted permission to operate on East 20^th Street.

Close vote

The City Council decided not to take action to relocate the scrap facility from its current location at East 20^th Street, Chico by a 4-3 vote in its meeting held Tuesday, May 3^rd. Councilors Randall Stone, Ann Schwab and Tami Ritter voted for the motion. On the other hand, councilors Reanette Fillmer and Andrew Coolidge, Vice Mayor Sean Morgan and Mayor Mark Sorensen voted against.

The council members who supported the bill noted that they would have voted against, if the city had money to help the firm to move to another location. Since the city had no money within its budget for such a move, voting against would literally lead to closure of the facility, which they don’t intend to.

For and against

Mayor Mark Sorenson noted that Chico Scrap Metal may in all likelihood file a lawsuit, if they are forced to move from its home location. Also, it will be difficult to find a new buyer for the site, after so many years of industrial use.

Meantime, Councillor Randall Stone noted that the functioning of the scrap metal yard will be in violation of the Chapman-Mulberry neighborhood plan. Ann Schwab noted that it is more important for the city to keep its promise on developing the neighborhood. Ritter, who upheld the neighborhood plan, noted that the city budget would look into making provisions to help Chico Scrap Metal to relocate to another convenient location.

Relocation order

The recycling facility was ordered to shut down by Dec 31^st, 2006, as part of nonconforming commercial and industrial uses in the Chapman Mulberry neighborhood. In 2006, the company was granted five years extension. In 2011, another three year extension was granted.

Protests

The protestors allege that the site spreads harmful chemicals, impacting the health of people living around. According to them, the operation of the facility is totally incompatible with the neighboring zoning. Aesthetic changes will not do any good for the nearby community as the dump site is believed to emit deadly chemicals that could cause serious damage to human health, they added.

Conditions to be met

The Council has suggested on-site aesthetic improvements and modification of operations. This includes fencing, building remodels, relocating stored materials, planting shrubs and shade trees, maintaining current hours, upgrading equipment, and continuing dust suppression.

About Chico Scrap Metal

Chico Scrap Metal (CSM), established in 1983, is a family operated business supporting the community in their personal and business recycling needs. The easily accessible location at East 20^th Street provides safe and proper recycling of materials that would otherwise be discarded in landfills. CSM works with local businesses and individuals to provide bins to recycle metals. The company retrieves the materials from the bins which are recycled in an environment-friendly manner. The company is a major recycler of all scrap metals (ferrous and non-ferrous).