LABELLE – A tire recycling business is proposed on a 16-acre property south of E. Lincoln Avenue, approximately 800 feet east of South Bridge Street. The business would be limited to indoor recycling of tires.

At the Nov. 16 meeting of the LaBelle City Commission, commission members expressed concern there would be an unsightly pile of tires outside the business.

The applicant said all the materials would be inside the building. He said there would be no burning, and no odor created. The recycling machines shred the tires which are then used in road construction, for speed bumps and for other items.

Commissioners also expressed concerns about semis coming in and out. There are two proposed means of ingress and egress to the site. Primary access will be provided from E. Lincoln Avenue. A second point of ingress and egress is proposed to the south on Grand Avenue.

The applicant has proposed that the industrial buildings be setback a minimum of 250’ from the front property line along E. Lincoln Avenue, which is adjacent to residential development. The  building proposed in the northern portion of the site.

During public comments, several people who own property in the neighborhood voiced objections to siting a recycling business within the city. City officials noted the property is already zoned as industrial.

Concerns included the safety issues regarding the heavy trucks coming and going from the site, noise and pollution. They also complained some property owners in the area were not notified of the meeting.

"I don't want to move out of LaBelle, but I would have to move," said one property owner. "I couldn't afford another house here."

The property is currently zoned Industrial.

Junior Sanchez said it would be postive for LaBelle because they would pick up tires that are illegally dumped.  "I've been planning this for 20 years," he said. "It will bring a lot of taxes, a lot of workers. 

He said the building will be 400 feet in length and 185 feed in width.  The business will employ about 15 people.

"We're going to be one of the largest on the west coast of Florida," he said.

"Something like this should not be in any city limits," said one property owner. He suggested the city require an 8-foot high concrete block fence around the facility.

The commission tabled the matter until the Feb. 9 meeting.