Public Meetings Set For Controversial Proposed Vallejo Cement Factory

SOLANO COUNTY, CA -- The Vallejo City Council will hold hearings this week on a controversial waterfront cement factory proposal that a city commission previously rejected.

The project at 800 Derr St. was rejected by the Vallejo Planning Commission earlier this year. The applicant, Orcem Americas, has since appealed that decision to the Vallejo City Council.

The Council will hold a public hearing at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 30, and again on Thursday, June 1 at the same time. The meetings, which will include a time for public comment, will be held in the council chambers at Vallejo City Hall, 555 Santa Clara St.

Orcem has said the proposed project would be a "green" cement facility on a small portion of the old General Mills flour mill site that, combined with a new international shipping terminal, would "contribute millions of dollars annually to the local economy."

However, numerous groups are opposing the project, noting its close proximity to a residential neighborhood would pose significant environmental problems and health dangers to nearby homes and schools.

In a statement, Peter Brooks, president of the group Fresh Air Vallejo, called the project an "environmental nightmare."

"The terrible truth about the pollution, bogus job numbers, and lack of environmental justice have all been revealed to the public that does not want a project whose harm to Vallejo outweighs any possible benefit,"
Brooks said.

Bay City News contributed to this report/Image via Shutterstock