Concrete operations and other manufacturing will begin at a site in Middletown this summer. Lake County granted a Major Use Permit to Don Van Pelt of Clearlake Lava, Inc. to begin work on the location of the former Parnum Paving plant.
Parnum Paving suffered damage from the fires of 2015.
Van Pelt said they are looking to start operations of some aspects of the process by late July or early August. Although the area is zoned for heavy industrial use and Clearlake Lava will be in part operating on an existing site, a Major Use Permit was needed for this plant because it required adjustments and reconstruction on county land.
“We were hoping to start operations before summer, but with the process that have been needed its looking like it will be later,” Van Pelt said.
In Middletown, Hidden Valley, Cobb and Lower Lake, as well as rural areas recovering from the fires, many have reported trouble trying to get materials. This has caused them to look out of county to help rebuild.
Once Clearlake Lava is up and running, the facility will allow those affected by the fires to get septic tanks, concrete and other materials for rebuilding locally. Planning Commissioner John Hess pointed out that this is likely to hasten reconstruction.
“I want to do what I can to help those who suffered the fire,” Hess said.
The new plant will be pursuing concrete batch plant operations, septic tank manufacturing operations and bulk storage of aggregate materials and related activities. Clearlake Lava also anticipates adding services that were not available before damage to the original plant. These include the development of stone products and building materials.
The permit allows for replacement of preexisting structures and improvements of those destroyed on the site. Operation of the retail yard and the batch plant will typically be operated from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. once the plant is completed and ready to sell out the products made.
