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Neighbors oppose Wolf’s Fish processing plant near residential Admirals Hill site
Summary
Residents and community leaders raised health, odor, noise and traffic concerns about a proposed Wolf’s Fish processing facility at a former bakery site; speakers sought clearer public notice of zoning actions and promised further participation at zoning board meetings.
Residents, community leaders and tenants packed the microphone to oppose a proposed Wolf’s Fish processing facility in the Admirals Hill/Commandant Way area, raising concerns about odors, early-morning truck traffic, noise, rodents and perceived lack of transparent notice from city officials and the company.
"I'm not here to talk about the effects. I just wanted to focus ... on the effects of fish processing chemicals on humans," said Svetlin Baderoff, who told the council he is a nearby resident and described worries about air pollutants, truck exhaust and sleep disruption from trucks beginning operations at 4 a.m.
Multiple speakers described prior local experiences with odorous industrial operations and urged the council and city staff to scrutinize the proposed change. "I'd rather lose 50 jobs than have a fish market or a fish processing plant behind a residential place," said Clarice Vega, president of La Collaborativa and a longtime resident. Joe Lafond, a resident who lives with a direct view of the building slated for Wolf’s Fish, said residents had little notice about the potential tenant and said, "a fish factory and a bread factory are incredibly different smelling."
Why it matters: Speakers warned that continuous odors and truck traffic would damage quality of life, reduce property values and could bring health effects. Several asked whether an environmental or odor-control study had been performed and urged the city to require neighborhood protections if a permit is granted.
Process and notifications: Several residents said a zoning change to allow seafood processing had already been made at one level and that additional zoning- and planning-board reviews remain. Suzanne Perry and others said they learned about the company's interest only through informal neighborhood networks and requested clearer public notice for upcoming zoning and planning hearings. "There has to be other things that it can be," Perry said, urging alternatives for the waterfront parcel.
Council response and next steps: Council leaders told speakers that the fish market/processing topic was not on the meeting agenda and encouraged residents to attend the scheduled zoning and planning-board meetings where formal review and public comment will take place. A councilor said a community meeting had occurred and that additional zoning board meetings are pending; city staff said they will accept emails and phone calls from residents.
Ending: No permit or zoning action occurred at the council meeting. Residents said they will pursue public hearings before the zoning board and planning board and asked the council for continued disclosure and local hiring commitments if Wolf’s Fish proceeds.
