Controversy surrounding 110 acres in SW Fresno being proposed for an industrial business park

Thursday, January 25, 2018
Controversy surrounding 110 acres in SW  Fresno being proposed for an industrial business park
The 110 acres is being proposed for heavy industrial development right across from his home.

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Daniel Macias has questions about the empty property in Southwest Fresno. The 110 acres is being proposed for heavy industrial development right across from his home.

"My main concern is the health of the people that live in the neighborhood, with a lot of truck traffic comes contamination pollution and who knows what else," said Macias.

The location has room for up to seven buildings ranging in size from 124,000 square feet to one million square feet.

"We are people getting affected by all the pollution being added," said neighbor Leo Macias.

Attorney Ashley Werner is an attorney with leadership counsel for justice and accountability.

She says this community is vulnerable to the environmental impacts potential projects would bring.

"They are already exposed to really significant noise pollution vibration dust that covers their homes triggers asthmas triggers allergies and that is only going to be severely exasperated by having these trucks run in front of their house," said Werner.

District 3 Councilmember Oliver Baines understands the pushback.

"People always have concerns about health and they should and I don't ever want to minimize that, but we've done everything we can as a city to mitigate whatever health impacts are going to be out there," said Baines.

Neighbors feel before anything is approved, more research needs to be done.

"As far as I know there weren't in-depth environmental studies done and we would like to see some of that," said Daniel.