WATSONVILLE — The Watsonville Pilots Association is appealing a decision by city planners to allow Nordic Naturals to expand its facility near the Watsonville Municipal Airport.
The Watsonville City Council will consider upholding the Planning Commission’s decision on Tuesday.
On May 2, the commission approved Nordic Naturals’ request to build a two-story, 62,000-square-foot expansion at its headquarters on 111 Jennings Drive. Known as “Phase 2” of the company’s expansion, Nordic Naturals, which produces fish oil products, is looking to move research and development functions from a San Diego facility into the new building.
On May 16, Natalie Kirkish, an attorney with Wittwer Parkin LLP representing WPA, filed the appeal, stating in a letter that the “City cannot approve of any development within the Airport Safety Zones until it has incorporated the California Aeronautics Handbook into mandatory provisions in its General Plan.”
Further, the WPA is objecting to the city’s “reliance on the nine-year-old 2008 Initial Study/Negative Declaration for the original project,” according to Kirkish.
“Watsonville does not have a valid General Plan as to development within the Airport Influence Area and cannot find the project consistent with a valid General Plan,” she wrote.
In a report, Acting Community Development Director Suzi Merriam states that the WPA doesn’t say how the project is inconsistent with the California Airport Land Use Planning Handbook, “nor do they provide specific information as to what portions of the Initial Study/Negative Declaration may be inconsistent with the handbook.”
The council will determine whether the planning commission made the approval in error during Tuesday’s meeting.
Also during the meeting, the council will receive a report on the city’s budget.
According to a report by Assistant City Manager Matt Huffaker, the city is experiencing a time of “measured and sustained economic growth,” as revenue sources such as sales tax and property tax have seen increases in recent years.
Yet, increases to pension costs in the near future pose a threat to the city’s financial health, the report stated.
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The Watsonville City Council will meet Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers, 275 Main St., fourth floor. To view the agenda, visit tinyurl.com/y7p5h4kh.
