Opponents of an auto-shredder project are preparing to launch an initiative campaign to prevent the business from operating in the city of Colton, Calif.
Pacific Rail Industries received approval from the City Council in November to expand its existing scrap-metal facility and install a vehicle shredder on its property.
A neighboring metal recycler subsequently sued the city, arguing its environmental impact review was flawed.
The case will be heard in West Valley Superior Court in Rancho Cucamonga on Oct. 5. Judge Shahla Sabet will decide whether environmental impacts such as noise, traffic, air and water pollution were adequately addressed when the city approved the project.
Meanwhile, residents are getting ready to circulate a petition asking voters to qualify the "Colton Health and Environmental Safety Act' for the ballot.
The proposal would prohibit metal-shredding facilities within one mile of any home, school, park or church. The nearest home is 650 feet from Pacific Rail's property.
Supporters of the measure must collect valid signatures from 10 percent of the city's approximately 17,000 registered voters to qualify.
The election could be held to coincide with the state primary in June, or a special election could be called.
Proponents don't plan to begin circulating petitions until there is a ruling on the court case, said Jim Tabilio, a Los Angeles consultant for the initiative and representative of Pick Your Part Auto Recycling, a competitor of Pacific Rail Industries.
"If the court is going to rule against it, then the whole thing may be an issue we don't pursue,' Tabilio said.
Even if the judge rules the environmental review was adequate, Pacific Rail Industries would have to get additional permits that would require more approvals, Tabilio said.
Charles Siroonian, president of Pacific Rail Industries, did not return calls seeking comment.
Colton Iron and Metal, which has a business across the street from Pacific Rail, told the City Council the project would undermine the health and well-being of residents and congest already fragile city arteries.
Hugo Neu-Proler, Colton Iron and Metal's parent company, filed the lawsuit in January.
John Bowman, the company's attorney, did not return calls seeking comment.
City Manager Daryl Parrish said he has not seen the initiative proposal and could not comment.
But he said the city followed proper procedures in approving the Pacific Rail project.
"From our perspective, the environmental issues were addressed in the (environmental impact report),' Parrish said. "The zoning is proper. It's a heavy industrial project in a heavy industrial area. You're not going to have Microsoft headquarters there.'
Councilman Richard De La Rosa supports the auto-shredder operation.
"Pacific Rail has been a professional and responsible business,' De La Rosa. "They've gone over and above their responsibilities to make the project environmentally safe.'
Pacific Industries, which came to Colton in the mid-1980s, dismantles rail cars for metal recycling.
Besides shredding old automobiles, the company's proposal calls for increasing the volume of goods transferred from rail cars to trucks for distribution from 25,100 tons to 37,620 tons per month, city officials said.