75 years ago Famed Gorilla to be Exhibited in Benicia (May 7, 1942) “Kongo,” a 263-pound gorilla brought to America by the late John L. Ludwig, will be exhibited here at First and H streets on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The Friday showing will be from 7 o’clock to 9:30 in the evening, and the […]
Planning Commission denies use permit for Industrial Park hot dog restaurant
The Benicia Planning Commission unanimously voted to deny a use permit for a hot dog restaurant on Bayshore Road at Thursday’s meeting. According to staff, the site had previously been operating as an event center without a permit. In 2015, a business named La Fabriquita was established in the south end of the Benicia Foundry […]
2016 year in review: Crude-by-rail battle came to an end
(The last of the Herald’s articles focusing on the big Benicia stories of 2016 will be focusing on the biggest one of all.) Valero Benicia Refinery’s three-year battle to have its crude oil delivered by train rather than by boat came to an end in 2016. The year saw perhaps the biggest wave of developments […]
Industrial Park zoning tops planning agenda
The subject of personal service uses in Benicia’s Industrial Park (BIP) made up the sole agenda item at last Thursday’s planning commission meeting – and it will likely remain a major theme for the 2017 commission term. The item was a continuation from the previous planning commission meeting of Oct. 13. The commission had requested […]
Planning Commission hears Industrial Park update
At its regular meeting Thursday, the Benicia Planning Commission heard a report back from the subcommittee charged with evaluating personal service uses in the industrial park. The commission also acknowledged the addition of one new commission member, Daina Dravieks Apple, and two additions to city staff, namely Assistant Planner Adrian Lopez and Interim Principal Planner […]
Housing issues dominate Planning Commission meeting Thursday
At its regular meeting Thursday, the Benicia Planning Commission considered a proposal to amend its municipal code regarding “large family daycare,” discussed the city’s progress on addressing the need for affordable housing, and honored former commissioner Susan Cohen-Grossman, who resigned recently due to other business commitments, for her years of dedicated service to the city. […]
Open letter to the City Council: Support CBR
TO BENICIA CITY COUNCIL AND BENICIA PLANNING COMMISSION, RE: THE VALERO CRUDE-BY-RAIL PROJECT: Ladies and gentlemen, This letter is written in support of the proposed Valero Refinery crude by rail (CBR) project. I have a unique perspective on the issue, for two reasons: • I am a board-certified occupational and environmental medicine physician. Having researched, […]