Environmental Justice in East Durham
The city council will consider Monday night whether to allow an oil processing facility (for the production of biofuels) to begin operations at 1404 Angier Ave., in the crucial Angier Ave. corridor between Alston and Driver. Residents are justifiably concerned about noxious odor from the facility.
While I am a strong supporter of reclaimed energy sources, my concern for the past environmental injustice perpetrated in East Durham (evidenced by the number of heavy industrial facilities located in incompatible locations, such as this) and its effect on the important revitalization of the Angier Ave. corridor outweighs my broader support for biofuel production.
While there is not a simple strategy to reduce the industrial presence in the residential area between Driver and Alston, the strategic revitalization of the community hinges upon making good decisions in individual cases such as this.
The city council will consider this as agenda item #34. More info here:
http://www.durhamnc.gov/agendas/2007/cm_091707.cfm
Update: 9/17 1:57p - This agenda item has been cancelled for this evening because all notification requirements were not met.
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3 comments:
Interesting...I talked with one of the main people involved with the biofuels company some time ago, and can say that they are very nice and have the best of intentions. I hadn't really thought about it as being a potential blight upon East Durham.
Also, awhile ago, there was a RFP (request for proposals) put out for a 'brownfields' project in that area...perhaps they're related, or, that area isn't going to be used (misused?) for industrial purposes like it once was.
This plant will be down the street from my home. I have two main concerns. 1) Odor 2) The TOO wide interpretation of "recycling center".
The area is zoned as light industrial and they are attempting to go under "recycling center" as the permitted use.
Processing trap grease is a new industry and I have a hard time believing that this is the original use intended by the city's definition of the term, "recycling center."
Be allowing this permit to be approved, the city opens the door to larger companies that may not be run by folks that are as kind.
My wish is to revisit how this type of land use will be classified and what stipulations need to be considered before allowing this in the light industrial category which is usually very near residences.
Otherwise, we're all about to be invited to a rotten egg (in this case chicken) party.
Folks we can try selling homes in this area by telling potential residences about all the character and life in a community. That is extremely hard to do if they are holding their nose or trying not gag. No DICE!
This is a perfect example of why local residents should always have a say in the process of allowing/disallowing such a thing to happen within any given neighborhood. I (it turns out, naively) thought it was a good idea for various reasons (as might many people who don't live in the neighborhood), but "a c" who is a local resident, fully understands the implications of having such a facility in the said neighborhood.
Good luck...
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