Turlock farmer may be given more time to obtain permit

TURLOCK -- Stanislaus County supervisors will consider a deal Tuesday morning that would delay an enforcement action for eight months while a Turlock farmer applies for a use permit.

County officials recently cracked down on Dan Avila & Sons, which has run a produce packing and shipping operation at 1301 Washington Road without land use permits. During the summer, county staff visited the site and found that packing and storage facilities had been built without local government approval.

Staff documented health and safety hazards, such as a driveway that causes trucks to cross both lanes while turning onto Washington. Since at least October 2010, Avila has processed watermelons and sweet potatoes at the site, across the street from the west Turlock industrial area.

Owner Dan Avila said last week that he has 300 to 400 employees whose jobs could be threatened if he's shut down immediately.

Last week, supervisors gave Avila a week to reach an agreement that satisfies the concerns of the county planning, public works and environmental resources departments. The proposed deal would require him to complete studies and provide information needed for the Planning Commission to consider the use permit by July 1.

In addition, Avila needs to pay the county's enforcement costs of $3,300 and buy a $1 million policy insuring the county against any claims that may arise from the illegal construction and operations.

Bee staff writer Ken Carlson can be reached at kcarlson@modbee.com or (209) 578-2321.

The Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors will meet at 9 a.m. Tuesday in the basement chamber of Tenth Street Place, at 1010 10th St. The board will consider the following items:

• A first-quarter financial report for the 2012-13 fiscal year, with proposed budget adjustments for county departments

• A proposal to implement shorter Williamson Act contracts under Assembly Bill 1268. The bill allows counties to enter contracts that are 10 percent shorter in duration. The Williamson Act gives tax relief to farmers for keeping their land in agriculture.