This week's headlines

If planning commission meetings are any indication, things are picking up in the City of Delta. The planning commission met only sporadically in 2012, but since the beginning of the year has approved a request for a zoning change in North Delta, granted a variance request for a facade improvement at Hellman Chevrolet, and conducted a public hearing for a business looking to store explosives on its premises.

The planning commission also has a new member — former city clerk Lynn Williams. After a public hearing March 4, she made the motion TK Mining Services be allowed to store explosives on a parcel of land on H25 Road in North Delta.

The Delta City Council recently adopted an ordinance allowing explosives in the B-3 and I zones, if certain conditions are met.

TK Mining focuses primarily on underground and surface mining but recently expanded into rock mitigation. David Schaaf explained the explosives will be used on state highways, particularly McClure Pass, to clear roads after rockslides.

TK's application asks for conditional approval to store up to 500 pounds of powder.

In accordance with federal regulations, the powder and detonators will be stored in separate magazines. The magazines will be inspected weekly for integrity and to verify quantity.

Six neighboring landowners were informed of the public hearing but just one filed an objection. Planning commissioners discussed their concerns, and questioned Schaaf about the placement and protection of the magazines. Schaaf said it would take a crane to lift the magazines, which will be protected by a wall of dirt at least three feet thick. The magazines will be located at least 320 feet from inhabited buildings and 135 feet from a public highway. Each magazine is equipped with two locks that have at least five tumblers and a case-hardened shackle. In response to a question from someone in the audience, Schaaf said you could spend hours with a cutting torch and not break the hasp.

Planning commission members placed two conditions on the application — they want the fire department to be notified both verbally and in writing, and they want to see proof of liability insurance. With those two conditions added, the motion to grant a conditional permit passed unanimously.

In February, business owners at 1527, 1529, 1531, 1533, 1535, 1541 N. Highway 50 and 1548 Vista Street asked their parcels be rezoned B-3, from B-2. It was the planning commission's second stab at this request; the hearing was rescheduled because of concerns not all neighbors had been notified of the first hearing.

Cliff Ulman represented the applicants at the public hearing. He explained 90 percent of the area along North Highway 50 is currently zoned B-3 and one of the businesses in Vista Del Monte Plaza is currently operating under a conditional use permit. He believes the B-3 zoning is more compatable with the types of businesses operating in the Vista Del Monte Plaza.

Planning commission member Gerald Roberts cast the only no vote and the matter was forwarded to the Delta City Council where it was unanimously approved.

Tim Hellman, owner of Hellman Chevrolet, sought a variance request for improvements he plans to make at his business at 900 Main Street. Using slides, community development director Glen Black explained how the facade improvement will encroach onto the sidewalk, a public right of way, but to a smaller extent than an existing encroachment.

Tim Hellman explained the improvements are suggested as part of a national GM branding program. Hellman's request for a variance was approved. He said the next step is to submit the proposal to GM for approval.

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