Meeting for the first time in the new year, the Oakley Planning Commission on Tuesday signed off on plans for the development of a light industrial warehouse in the city’s rural northwestern corner.
The commission decided to approve applicant Kenneth Ferrante’s plans to subdivide 3.96 acres into three parcels and construct a 9,100-square-foot light industrial warehouse on one of the parcels located at 2540 Oakley Road. The proposed warehouse would include office space, four metal roll-up doors, and six associated parking spaces.
In addition to the warehouse site on 1.84 acres at the north end of the property, the development site also contains a 1.34-acre vineyard, which would be zoned for future light industrial use. A residence on the third of the three parcels would remain as a nonconforming structure.
The area is zoned light industrial — a designation that among other things provides for limited manufacturing, distribution, warehousing and storage, but excludes businesses that emit significant amounts of smoke, noise, light or pollutants.
In addition to the warehouse on 1.84 acres at the north end of the property, the development site also contains a 1.34-acre vineyard that would be zoned for future light industrial use. A residence on the third of the three parcels, fronting Oakley Road, would remain as a nonconforming structure.
New fencing and landscaping would be installed to screen the project from public view, said Ken Valente of Raney Planning and Management, the project’s managing agent. The site would make use of a septic tank rather than connecting with the city’s public sewer line, which Valente said is located too far from the property.
Ferrante, the owner and operator of Delta Grinding, said his project has been more than 10 years in the making.
“It’s an honor to be the catalyst in between that provides employment, provides more space for employment and opportunity within the city of Oakley that is growing,” Ferrante told the commission. “We look forward to this being the first step on this site and then progressing.”
No one spoke against the project. The commission voted 4-0 to approve it with Commissioner Leonard Price absent. The application now moves to the City Council for final approval.
Bay City News staff writers Aly Brown and Glenn Gehlke contributed to this story.