LIVINGSTON -- Despite concerns from the community, the Livingston City Council moved forward Tuesday with a plan to bring more than 340 acres owned by the Gallo family into the city.
Proponents of the plan say the move sets the stage for development that will bring jobs. Critics argue the cost of providing those services could outweigh the benefits.
Speaking in favor was Frank Bor-ges, a Gallo representative. "There's a recent trend of interest in the industrial use of land along 99 freeway," he said. "I believe here's an opportunity for Livingston to create some jobs for the city."
Annexing the land into Livingston would make sale of the property more attractive to industrial and residential developers because the city would be required to provide basic services such as sewer, water, fire and police.
Opponents have repeatedly raised concerns that developing the area would increase traffic and put more wear and tear on already battered roads.
"In my opinion, if the city of Livingston does not recognize the fact that this rezone will result in a significant impact, then they're not doing their due diligence," local resident Doug Wells told the City Council. "I say this just looking at one area -- traffic and transportation."
Also, the idea of providing sewer services to the area revived long-standing concerns over a nearby sewer pipeline that was built but never used.
Amanda Carvajal, executive director of the Merced County Farm Bureau, said that though her group doesn't oppose the project in general, it did express several concerns, including the safety issues that have surrounded the sewer pipeline.
"Initially, I didn't see the relevancy to that (sewer pipeline)," she said. "In digging into this further, the sewer line itself is showing the capacity for that area. For this sewer line, I need to know when and if the master plan was certified. That is a concern to me."
City officials continue to suggest those issues will be addressed later in the planning process.
"This is only bringing the project into the city," said Donna Kenny, the city's planning secretary. "That's why you don't see any of those details in the environmental (analysis), because we don't have specific projects to analyze yet."
As it stands now, the City Council approved a pre-zoning plan for the area, which includes 30 acres of low-density residential, 100 acres of highway commercial, 44.7 acres of limited industrial and more than 160 acres of general industrial.
The public comment period for the annexation project will close Monday at 5 p.m.
The council will have an opportunity to approve the annexation at its next meeting on Feb. 7. The plan would then go before the Merced County Local Agency Formation Commission and be subject to further public input.
Reporter Joshua Emerson Smith can be reached at (209) 385-2486
or jsmith@mercedsunstar.com.
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