Residents are not fans of the proposed change and took time to speak their minds in public comment.
Three residents spoke against the proposed change. Kim Hochmuth was one of those who owns rental property on the street and believes it will affect her potential to rent.
“I would never have purchased this house if I knew it would be an issue,” she told the council.
Another resident, Dalia Vansickle, came forward claiming that the company’s sandblasting activities have not only contaminated her pool but also other pools in the area. She said the activities have made people, including herself, sick as well.
Richard Galloway, president of the Chamber of Commerce, spoke in favor of the project and acknowledged the difficult decision the council had to make.
“Not one of us envy you. No matter what decision you make, someone will be unhappy,” he said. “I am going to encourage you to vote for commerce.”
Lisa Jackson of Bottom Line Services was the last to speak. She said that all sandblasting activities had stopped two months ago and would not be starting up again. She said one person has approached her about a pool and concrete evidence was not provided that the damage was caused by Bottom Line but that the “issue is not dead” and the company will continue to work with the owner and fix her pool if sufficient proof can be found.
“We are trying to work with our neighbors,” Jackson said. “I know we will not make them 100 percent happy but we are willing to talk to them.”
Bottom Line will be using the extra four acres for equipment storage, new pipe storage and some possible welding activities.
After hearing complaints from residents, Lucinda Garcia, special projects attorney to the city, suggested that conditions be added to the property so that no matter what happened to the property the conditions would always be with it. The conditions were that there would never be sandblasting on the property again, Burleson Street would not be used for truck traffic ever, Bottom Line would place a privacy fence around the proposed property and the company would put in and maintain roads made of caliche and rock. Bottom Line agreed to the conditions.
Council member Tom Iley asked residents if the conditions would be a middle ground and the residents were not satisfied.
When it came time for the vote, Mayor Steele and Ralph Lopez were for the zoning change while Iley and Chuck Pawelek were against the zoning change. Council member Louis Salinas was absent. Without the deciding vote, the motion did not pass because the majority was not received.
Bottom Line graciously thanked the council members for their time and consideration in the matter.
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