A California electroplating operation scored a rare victory for finishers in its fight to get a zone change for its business.
The city council approved Padron Metal Finishing in California City, about 100 miles north of Los Angeles, for a request to change their zoning from Neighborhood Commercial to Light Industrial (non-cannabis).
The city council vote overturned a recommendation from the city’s staff to deny the change and agreed with the city’s planning commission that recommended the change.
Planning Commission Chairman Jay Dunham told the city council that owner Ivan Padron had answered all of their concerns over safety issues regarding chemicals used at Padron Metal Finishing.
“I don’t think we came to the same conclusions as staff did,” Dunham told the city council, according to the Antelope Valley Press.
Not in the Purview of the Planning Commission
Padron Metal Finishing in California City, about 100 miles north of Los Angeles.Specifically, Dunham told council members that concerns about the chemicals were addressed as part of the permitting process and that they were “not in the purview of the Planning Commission.”
According to news reports, Mayor Pro Tem Ron Smith said the scrutiny that Padron Metal Finishing faced during the zone change process “was not applied to cannabis manufacturing businesses,” which he says also use and store volatile chemicals.
“We didn’t care about our citizens where we allowed the cannabis manufacturing facilities to go,” Smith said, according to the Antelope Valley Press. “It doesn’t make any sense. How are these any more dangerous?”
Padron says they are excited to get the business back open.
“This has been a long-winded battle,” he says. “California City is a perfect location for our business, and we are grateful that the City agreed. This victory is a significant accomplishment for our family and business.”
Padron says the battle to get approval was challenging and lengthy and required a lot of research and documentation on their part.
“This has been a long road,” says Crystal Padron, the company office manager and Ivan’s daughter. “We’re tired, and we want to work; we want to get our business up and going.”
“Fortunately, with the help of our team and our extensive experience of 32+ years in the industry, we had a lot of information and knowledge to offer,” he says. “We had several meetings with the planning commission to ensure we answered all their questions and concerns. We needed to make them aware of what our business was and what it entailed.”
Padron says he believes that the Planning Commission and City Council saw his business's great potential for California City.
According to city documents for the zoning request, the city says Padron purchased the property and building several years ago and expanded the structure without getting approved permits. The city staff says it is unclear how operations were initially described as the applicant appeared to associate the business with Automotive Service and Repair, a conditionally allowed use at the site, based upon the practice of plating parts to be installed on vehicles.
“While parts for vehicles are plated, Automobile Service and Repair is not the primary activity of the current use,” a city memo says. “The metal parts that receive plating are used in a wide range of industries. Additionally, the activities associated with metal plating include use of a variety of chemicals and acids as well as application of electrical current to activate the plating process. These activities are not consistent with Automotive Services and Repair.”
Electricity Cut in 2022 to Shutter Business
Padron says the bulk of their business will come from anodized Type II and chemical conversions.In December 2021, the city notified Padron that his shop violated zoning codes. In July 2022, they sent him a “cease and desist” order from the Kern County Public Health Services Department, and electrical service to the business was shut off by the city.
Padron, who says he has been in the finishing industry for over 30 years, argued in filings with the city that his company would be providing finishing services to the automobile, ATV industry, machine shops, and the medical, aerospace, and military industries.
“Given that we are located near many military and aerospace companies, we have the perfect location to provide services to these companies as well,” he says. “There are little to no metal finishing businesses located within a reasonable range for these industries, which make Padron Metal Finishing highly sought after.”
Padron says the bulk of their business will come from anodized Type II and chemical conversions. He estimated Type II would bring in $700,000 yearly, and chemical conversions would add $180,000 yearly. Padron says he plans to have 12 employees to make his payroll $28,800 monthly.
“Our cash flow will be $1,000,000,” he says. “My investment in the company will be $500,000. In addition, most, if not all, employees plan on buying or renting homes to become fellow residents and neighbors.”
Nothing Going Outside Facility
As for the chemicals used in the operation, Padron said the maximum stored hazardous materials on site with their current processes would be up to 220 gallons of liquid and 850 pounds of powder material.
Before the vote, George Ramirez, Padron Metal Finishing’s environmental consultant, told the city council that the chemicals used are in diluted solutions and stored with backup containment mechanisms.
“Nothing is going to go outside the facility,” he says.
Padron says they have received a lot of interest from the military and aerospace industries, which presents them with many opportunities.
“We are thrilled and eager to begin working with them,” he says. “In the future, we aim to expand our business to other locations, which is a long-term goal. As a small family-owned business, we are determined to establish the Padron name, striving towards growth and prosperity for many years. We appreciate the support and look forward to contributing to the metal finishing industry.”
After the city council voted to approve the zone change, employees of the company were excited to get the business back open.
“This has been a long road,” says Crystal Padron, the company office manager and Ivan’s daughter. “We’re tired, and we want to work; we want to get our business up and going.”
