Composite Plastic Systems Inc. has been manufacturing faux trees and water towers that hide the cell towers within the Santa Maria, CA facility. However, as the Santa Maria Times reports, the City Council has voted to deny the business a conditional use permit, despite the fact that the company has been in business for years.
The facility is located on River Rock Road, in the Railroad Loft section of the city. The town’s Specific Plan limits the types of businesses that can operate in that zone and concerns have been raised that Composite Plastic Systems is non-compliant.
“There are laws and regulations, you know, that the city has to abide by,” said Councilwoman Etta Waterfield who cast a vote against the concealed cell tower company. “We get complaints all the time about nonconforming … even in residential zones where someone goes in and opens up a business in a residential zone and it’s just not compliable.”
Rienk Ayers, the business owner, said that the company operates under two different names, which is the source of the problem. Paperwork with the city of Santa Maria was filed under one name but not the other, a discrepancy Ayers says he has spent years attempting to correct. At the city’s suggestion, he filed for a conditional use permit which city staff suggested would allow the business to be grandfathered in and remain in operation.
When the request came before the Planning Commission, the commissioners voted 4-0 to deny the CUP. Ayers appealed the decision to the City Council, which supported the Planning Commission with a 3-2 vote against Composite Plastic Systems.
“The use of the chemicals they’re using,” said Councilman Mike Cordero, who voted to withhold the CUP, told the Santa Maria Times, “I think, presents more of a concern to me, that it could drift over to some of the residential areas, and the fact that we haven’t had anything happen makes it very fortunate and good luck for us and good luck for the residents.”
Council member Gloria Soto expressed a more sympathetic point of view, noting, “To me it just sounds like there were a lot of misunderstandings … and mistakes, and I’m really concerned about what this would mean to the employees that you all have under you.”
In response to Soto’s concern, Ayers commented, “There are no other adequate properties in Santa Maria or even in the area. We would have to move out of town, hopefully not out of state.”
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