Harlingen Approves New Industrial Projects

0:00Harlingen City commissioners are moving forward with special permits for two new industrial projects on the Northwest side along North Commerce Street. They unanimously approved initial steps for a recycling center at 1318 North Commerce run by Nicole Ortiz under capital city recycling. This spot previously had a permit back in 2017. The recycling operation will buy metals like aluminum, bronze, copper, and iron then box them up for shipping to a facility in Brownsville for global sales. Meanwhile, commissioners voted four to two to advance a permit for St. Clair Group on a 23 acre site at 2201 North Commerce. That project involves loading ethanol from real cars onto trucks. Some commissioners raise concerns about the heavy trucks wearing down local roads, especially along Wilson Road, which isn't built for overweight. Loads. Opponents Daniel Lopez and Delia Cavazzo's games voted no, pointing to similar operations in Cameron County that have damaged roadways.

1:02State environmental regulators have already greenlit the ethanol site, and the city is requiring a hazard mitigation plan plus other safety steps. Police are teaming up with state troopers to check truck weights and keep things in check. These approvals aim to boost local industry while addressing road and safety issues head on, setting the stage for both operations to get off the ground soon. Local news powered by AI. This is Dallas News Today.