Fuel Tank Expansion Plans Opposed By East Side Residents
POSTED: Wednesday, January 24, 2007
UPDATED: 9:24 am CST January 24,
2007
SAN ANTONIO -- Residents packed a meeting Tuesday night to voice their opposition to a proposal that would allow a pair of 1 million gallon fuel storage tanks to sit on some property on the city's East Side.
Redifuel, an emergency fuel service provider, wants to expand its operations to an eight-acre site near Binz-Engleman and Interstate 35.
"We don't want anymore dumping on the East Side," said Guadalupe Figeroa, who opposes the project. "That's all we're known for. We can't grow, we can't get better economic development because of all that is already here. Nobody wants to come here."
District 2 Councilwoman Sheila McNeil, who represents the district where the property sits, said that many of her constituents don't want any more fuel tanks near their home.
"They said that loud and clear tonight, so we, you know, need to respect that," McNeil said.
But Tommy Calvert, a spokesman for Redifuel, said that the proposed site would be safer than the existing one.
Calvert also claimed that he wasn't given the opportunity to present his company's case to residents.
"This was set up by the councilwoman and some folks that she organized not to get to the truth and not to get answers," Calvert said. "There was no opportunity for people to really hear the answer to the questions they posed."
The proposal would require a zoning change, which would have to be approved by the San Antonio City Council, which is scheduled to vote on the expansion plans Feb. 1.
If the council doesn't approve the project, Calvert said Redifuel may build the tanks on its existing property.
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