Nursery may be safe from annexation

A proposed annexation in west Hanford recently stirred some controversy because it would have made a long-standing nursery out of compliance with zoning regulations.

The debate has continued for a few months now, but city officials last week said they might finally have found a solution that everyone could live with.

Rather than simply grandfathering in 46-year-old Hofmans Nursery without a real protection of its business rights, city planners are now proposing to add the nursery as "permitted use" in the office zone, a land use proposed as part of the annexation for the area.

Ultimately, that's the plan to be presented to the Hanford City Council on Tuesday, as the decision-makers consider the annexation proposal by Southern California developer Daniel Bailey in a public hearing.

Owner Bill Hofmans has been worried that his nursery would have been a noncomforming use if the annexation occurred under the original proposal. He argued that would unfairly prevent his business from expanding in the future or even rebuilding should disaster hit.

The proposed rule would make the nursery a permitted business activity, eliminating these barriers.

In other business, the city council will hold a public hearing on negative declaration for the city's arsenic reduction capital improvement plan.

The Hanford City Council meets for a study session at 4 p.m. and reconvenes for a regular session at 7:30 p.m. every first and third Tuesday in the Council Chambers, Civic Auditorium, 400 N. Douty St.

The reporter can be reached at 582-0471, ext. 3059.

(Aug. 20, 2007)