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The views expressed herein are the personal views of each individual author or commenter and are not intended to reflect the views of The Ojai Post or its Authors, Tribal Core or Tyler Suchman as managing editor.

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Stop the Trucks: Santa Barbara Gravel Haulers Prohibited Through Ojai

012208 Ojai Montgormery2.jpg

Photo courtesy of Daly Road Graphics & Ray Smith

Story By Chris Meagher at The Santa Barbara Independent

Gravel Haulers Prohibited Through Ojai, Los Padres
Trucks Brake for Highway 33


"The main artery through Ojai, State Route 33 sits in western Ventura County, just a few miles from the Santa Barbara County border. Along Route 33 sit schools, hospitals, shopping malls, and Ojai’s busiest intersection. What it will not accommodate — to the relief of many Ojai residents — is the daily rumbling of hundreds of semi trucks carrying thousands of pounds of gravel to construction sites throughout Santa Barbara and Ventura counties..."

“The Highway 33 corridor is not suitable for these big trucks,” said 1st District Planning Commissioner Michael Cooney..." "...Michael Shapiro of the Stop the Trucks Coalition, citing the air quality impact on the health, safety, and welfare of those living or traveling near Route 33, said industrial traffic through Ojai would have had a palpable and “scary” impact on residents, creating an industrial feel that could potentially harm the valley’s income from its reputation for arts and tourism. “It [would have] totally, adversely affected the economy,” Shapiro said..."

"...Jeff Kuyper, executive director of ForestWatch, a watchdog group dedicated to preserving and protecting Los Padres National Forest, also expressed concern about the trips down Route 33, pointing out that the trucks would have passed by campgrounds, swimming holes, and other popular wilderness areas in their routes..."

"...We believe that the Environmental Impact Report fails to adequately analyze Highway 33 to determine its long-term safety and efficacy for wide-spread industrial utilization,” said Shapiro, who said he plans to appeal the decision to the Santa Barbara Board of Supervisors. “Until and unless the current EIR establishes a permanent ban on such utilization — with adequate redress if such a ban is ever lifted — the Coalition will remain proactive in opposing any such utilization,” Shapiro said..."

"..Diamond Rock is one of three potential mining operations in the county along the Cuyama River. General Production Services (GPS) has been mining north of the Diamond Rock site for decades. Officials are proposing to relocate its digging pit because its current hole is not refilling with enough high-quality material, and an EIR is expected this summer. As part of its new proposal, GPS’s production rate will decrease or stay the same, and the company has indicated it will cease sending the 10 to 12 truck trips it has historically sent down Route 33. To the north of GPS is a project by Richards Holding Company. The application for that mining project is not complete, and a Planning Commission hearing wouldn’t come until 2009. The company has not yet agreed to any restrictions..."

For the full article go to:

http://www.independent.com/news/2008/may/22/gravel-haulers-prohibited-through-ojai-los-padres/

Posted by Howard Smith on May 22, 2008 07:48 PM | | | Stop the Trucks: Santa Barbara Gravel Haulers Prohibited Through Ojai

Comments (1)

Oh, congratulations Howard and all of the folks who've been working so hard to stop trucks! It sounds like this isn't the end of the fight -- but a major battle won!

Thank you, to everyone who has been tireless in applying pressure!

All the best,
Leigh

Comment #1 Posted by: Leigh | May 22, 2008 08:05 PM

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