RED BLUFF (California) DAILY NEWS

July 18, 2010

Corning migrant labor camp put on hold

By GEOFF JOHNSON -DN Staff Writer

Votes scheduled Thursday on a Corning migrant labor camp and development fees were postponed by the Tehama County Planning Commission until Aug. 19.

- The controversial labor camp, capable of accommodating about 140 migrant workers on an olive orchard near Woodson Bridge, was delayed to allow time to allow a negative declaration - a statement explaining why the commission has chosen not to require an Environmental Impact Report - to recirculate among the project's neighbors.

The declaration is being recirculated with an expanded project description, Planning Director George Robson said. The declaration discloses nothing new, but by expanding the description to cover information included elsewhere in the report, the Planning Department hopes to make the declaration easier to read and head off some of the questions posed by commissioners and the general public.

To date, neighbors have overwhelmingly fought the project for fear it would create more garbage, noise pollution, traffic and crime, though existing local migrant camps have not increased 911 calls.

Project applicant Angelo Ferro has argued the camp would reduce traffic by keeping migrant workers on the orchard, where they would be catered to, instead of making them commute across town.

- The commission delayed a vote on Development Impact Fees, citing an upcoming meeting with the Red Bluff-Tehama County Chamber of Commerce and an incomplete study comparing such fees between counties.

County officials, including Robson, maintain the figures are not meant to be taken at face value.

Robson has said the study results represent the most the county could charge and not what it is likely to charge.

The county, facing overwhelming opposition to the fees, is likely to tone down anything before approving it, Robson said.

The commission is expected to take up both items at its 9 a.m. Aug. 19 meeting in the board chambers at 727 Oak St.