Zoning approves warehouse project, hollow block factory

The Zoning Board unanimously approved two conditional use applications and one rezoning application during its meeting on Oct. 6.

Board chair Diego Blanco and members Ed Arriola Jr., Alice Igitol, and Joe Limes were present at the meeting to vote on the three applications.

The first application approved was by MEC, LLC to construct an 11,900 square foot warehouse on a lot between Tokcha Avenue, Tupak Street, and Texas Road in Susupe for the wholesale operations of Western Sales Trading Co., which distributes cigarettes, beers, and animal feeds. Resident manager Arnaldo G. Guban represented the company at the meeting.

A Susupe resident who lives near the proposed warehouse said he supports the business but there is also a need for the board to protect the inhabitants in the surrounding area.

Santiago Aguon said he continues to suffer from smoke and noise pollution coming from another warehouse in the area “and I don’t want this again to be happening to my house.”

According to Aguon, he has complained to the Division of Environmental Quality for five years but “nothing happened.”

Aguon said he used to make his own drinking water through reverse osmosis-which he learned from his work at the hospital-but because of the pollution in their area, he is now forced to buy drinking water.

“Don’t take my word [for it]. Go inside there and see for yourself, feel for yourself,” he addressed the board.

Businessman Joe Ayuyu, who owns the lot, reiterated his support for the application, describing it as a “plus” to the community.

“At a time when the economy of our islands is in pretty bad shape.I would like to encourage the board of directors to approve the project,” Ayuyu said.

The board approved the application with the following conditions: provide sufficient landscaping; no parking of cargo containers in premises for more than five days; comply with DEQ requirements for storm water management and air emissions; no use of hazardous chemicals and employ reasonable measures for proper disposal of non-hazardous chemicals; take all possible measure to minimize noise generated from warehouse operations to acceptable level required by OSHA; construction of warehouse not to go beyond 5pm; and applying for sign permit before one is installed.

“I know it’s hard to balance things out but I truly believe that the board will impose these conditions on the applicant and we would make sure that they comply with the conditions,” said Blanco.

The board also approved the conditional use application of Li Xiang Ming of An Manufacturing to manufacture hollow blocks on a lot along Afetnas Road in San Antonio.

Conditions for the application include landscaping; no parking of heavy equipment, cargo containers, and company vehicles on public right-of-way or along the street at any given time; no parking of cargo containers in the premises beyond five days; surrounding the area with tarpaulins or any materials to contain dust; taking all measures necessary to prevent dust from escaping beyond property line, including watering down the site; employing only five employees who will be limited to use only one forklift and one boom truck; following operating hours from Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm; obtaining a sign permit; and complying with noise level that has yet to be determined by the board.

The board also approved the rezoning of Lot E.A. 883-1, located at the former site of Black Micro Corp. in Kannat Tabla and adjacent to the CMS Quarry, from rural to industrial.