Calpipe: Council approves General Plan amendment for manufacturing
November 11, 2011
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula City Council
The City Council approved some rule changes at Monday’s meeting that will allow a new manufacturing plant to be built on the west end of the city that eventually could employ 200 people.
The council approved a General Plan amendment and rezoning four parcels south of Highway 126 near the water recycling facility to allow the construction of Calpipe, a Downey based company looking to expand in - and perhaps eventually relocate to - Santa Paula. The factory would be built on property owned by Ilan Bender, who told the council he would also manage the plant that initially would employ about 30 people.
The first phase of the project will include an approximately 13,100-square-foot metal building for the manufacturing facility. The second phase would create a new building covering about 30,000 square feet that would swell the workforce to about 200.
Bender told the council the first phase could be completed by January and the second phase about two years later. Bender had appeared before the council in May and told them of his plans, and they signaled their approval of the land use changes that would have to be made. At the Monday meeting the council approved a general plan amendment that changes the zoning of the four parcels - two owned by Bender, one by the city and one by another private party - from institutional civic and agricultural to industrial.
Bender told the council the PVC-coated steel electrical conduit and fittings made by Calpipe would be created on an assembly line of those trained in the manufacture of the product.
Several council members questioned certain aspects of the plan, including the Future Farmers of America facility and truck traffic impact to the aging infrastructure. Several public speakers also asked about the proposal to change the name of a portion of Todd Lane to Calpipe Road.
Of the FFA, Councilman Ralph Fernandez noted the facility has “been there for 30 years” and he questioned where it would be relocated, at what cost, and who would pay for it. He also asked that road maintenance be addressed in permitting.
After more discussion Mayor Fred Robinson said he was in favor of the project. “I think it will bring jobs to the city,” an economic benefit. Robinson did ask that the street renaming be delayed while staff researched the issue to ensure “we don’t overlook some historical significance there.”
