Asphalt plant for Petaluma appears headed for defeat

Plans for a Dutra asphalt plant on Petaluma?s south side appeared doomed this evening when three Sonoma County supervisors declared they could not support the idea.

Although they took no formal vote, a majority on the 5-member board said the asphalt plant required too many regulatory hoops and the project had too many conditions attached to justify approval.

The decision came as a shock to most in the audience, which at one point amounted to 200 people, since the plant had been given tentative approval last March on a 4-1 vote.

However, after listening to nearly five hours of public testimony and considering new information in a revised planning staff report, supervisors Valerie Brown and Efren Carrillo said they were joining Shirlee Zane in opposing the project.

South county supervisor Mike Kerns, who represents the area, asked for county planners to add several new conditions for supervisors to consider when Dutra?s request for a General Plan amendment returns for a final vote on July 21.

However, board chairman Paul Kelley recommended that planners also prepare a resolution rejecting the project, saying, ?I am reading that the board will not not support it when the project comes back.?