99 Ranch found to be a public nuisance
The South Coast Air Quality Management District hearing board has declared that 99 Ranch Market's cooking operations created a public nuisance. The board has ordered the market to cook using the methods of steaming and boiling only until a consultant is hired to conduct a thorough study. While the consultant drafts a report, the market could barbecue and deep fry only for the purposes of this study.
On July 13, the board will meet again to determine what 99 Ranch needs to do next.
Today was day 3 of the hearing and it was the first time we heard the opinions of the five-member board.
Edward Camarena chairs the AQMD panel.
"An odor no matter how pleasant -- depending on intensity, duration and frequency -- can rise to the point of being offensive," Camarena said. "I believe the odors have caused a nuisance as defined in health and safety code. I also believe there are other odors generated by other cooking operations in the shopping center where 99 Ranch is located but that does not take away from the fact that 99 Ranch has caused a public nuisance."
Another board member, Julie Varon, said she found the neighbors' testimonies "very credible."
You might remember from previous postings on this blog or in the newspaper articles that some residents claimed the smell coming from 99 Ranch was so bad, they couldn't stay outside or open their windows.
"What was most important about their testimony was the level of these odors -- what level these odors are and how it has impacted their lives," Varon said. "This has essentially taken away their ability to enjoy their property and that's the very definition of nuisance."
On July 13, the board will meet again to determine what 99 Ranch needs to do next.
Today was day 3 of the hearing and it was the first time we heard the opinions of the five-member board.
Edward Camarena chairs the AQMD panel.
"An odor no matter how pleasant -- depending on intensity, duration and frequency -- can rise to the point of being offensive," Camarena said. "I believe the odors have caused a nuisance as defined in health and safety code. I also believe there are other odors generated by other cooking operations in the shopping center where 99 Ranch is located but that does not take away from the fact that 99 Ranch has caused a public nuisance."
Another board member, Julie Varon, said she found the neighbors' testimonies "very credible."
You might remember from previous postings on this blog or in the newspaper articles that some residents claimed the smell coming from 99 Ranch was so bad, they couldn't stay outside or open their windows.
"What was most important about their testimony was the level of these odors -- what level these odors are and how it has impacted their lives," Varon said. "This has essentially taken away their ability to enjoy their property and that's the very definition of nuisance."
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