PLN200025 (Use Permit): OWNER: Eric Edelson / Fireclay Tile Inc. APPLICANT: Eric Edelson. LOCATION: 521 Quarry Road, Hollister, CA 95004. APN: 011-390-006 and portions of APN 011-309-050 and APN 011-390-040. REQUEST: A Use Permit for the expansion of the existing Fireclay Tile Factory at an industrial site. The proposed expansion includes construction of two new production and storage buildings, and an office building. The proposed storage building (Building X) would be approximately 29,100 square feet, the proposed production building (Building Z) would be approximately 22,680 square feet, and the proposed office (Building Y) would be approximately 11,900 square feet. The project would also include access and drainage improvements on two adjacent parcels. GENERAL PLAN LAND USE DESIGNATION: Industrial Heavy (IR) for APN 011-390-006 and APN 011-309-050; Rural (R) for APN 011-390-040. ZONING DISTRICT: Heavy Industrial (M-2) for APN 011-390-006, APN 011-309-040, and APN 011-390-040. ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW: Draft Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration available at http://cosb.us/county-departments/resource-management-agency/fireclay-tile-factory-expansion-pln200025-environmental-analysis/#.XuAmYEVKiUl. PLANNER: Arielle Goodspeed (agoodspeed@cosb.us)

The proposed project consists of the expansion of the existing Fireclay Tile Factory at an industrial site. The proposed expansion includes construction of two new production and storage buildings, and an office building. The proposed storage building (Building X) would be approximately 29,100 square feet (“SF”), the proposed production building (Building Z) would be approximately 22,680 SF, and the proposed office (Building Y) would be approximately 11,900 SF. The project would also include access and drainage improvements on two adjacent parcels.

The proposed project is located at 521 Quarry Road, Aromas CA, 95004, within San Benito County, California. The project site is made up of a 4.89-acre parcel (Assessor’s Parcel Number [“APN”] 011-390-006) and would include access and drainage improvements on two adjacent parcels; 30.18 acre parcel APNs 011-390-040 (Driscoll property) and 25.63 acre parcel 011-309-050 (Granite Rock property). 

Fireclay Tile has an existing use permit County file number MDR 87-08. Fireclay Founder and Chief Ceramicist Paul Burns set out on his own and made Fireclay Tile in 1986. Fireclay Tile is the first tile company to be certified as a Benefit Corporation. Every ceramic tile to order is made at the project site location in Aromas. The primary goal of the proposed project is to consolidate and expand existing facilities to increase efficiency and production. The project’s key objectives is to terminate the temporary lease for the warehouse in Gilroy and expand the existing site in Aromas and consolidate facilities and operation, to provide the employees a layout which would lead to enhanced efficiencies for both labor and utilities, to build a more efficient and productive operation to accommodate the company’s growth, and to continue to provide competitive wages and benefits for its team members.

Staff recommends that the Planning Commission review the staff report, draft initial study and recommendation to adopt a Mitigated Negative Declaration (of no significant impact), review the attached draft resolution, which includes findings and conditions of approval.  Staff further recommends that the Planning Commission make the findings included in the resolution and adopt the resolution to approve Use Permit PLN200025, subject to the conditions of approval found in the resolution.