The Commonwealth Zoning Board, in its recent meeting, heard public comments on the proposed amendment to rezone the area.
Li Xiang Ming asked the board to rezone a lot on Afetna Road in San Antonio from mixed commercial to industrial.
Zoning Board Chairman Diego Blanco said they are very anxious to help the business community and residents.
But he said there are some “gray areas” that the board and its legal counsel have to resolve before acting on the rezoning application.
Former Fitial administration official Antonio S. Muna, who represented Li Xiang Ming, said the concrete hollow blocks manufacturing business is a small operation.
“We can always make necessary improvements that would allow us to compress the noise and minimize dust pollution,” he said.
Muna said they will not go through any residential neighborhood since they will only use Beach Road going into Afetna Road — unless there’s a delivery of their product that will require the use of an interior road.
“But intrusion would be minimized to the residents in the area,” he said.
Liz Rechebei, a former Zoning Board member and a current Afetna residen, said she is hoping the company will make some improvements in the area.
“I hope whatever industry they build there they will try to beautify it, and maybe expand the road because large equipment will go in and out,” she said.
Zoning Board member Herman Sablan noted that some buildings in the area have already been abandoned.
Sablan said he supports any effort that will address “eyesores” by renovating and upgrading such structures.
Residents in the area, he added, have suffered enough in the past when garment factories were still in operation.
Ricky Sanchez, a resident close to the proposed concrete hollow block plant, expressed concern about the impact on the water supply.
Muna, a former executive director of the Commonwealth Utilities Corp., said they will only use “minimal water.”
He said they will also expand a buffer zone by developing a landscape within the perimeter fence.
“The company will provide a much cleaner [area],” he said.
Blanco said the board will decide on the request after consulting with their legal counsel.
“Our legal counsel will look into the law and see if we can find a compromise,” he added.
