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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1.26 comprehensive plan goals regarding gravel extractionCOMPREHENSIVE PLAN GOALS REGARDING GRAVEL EXTRACTION A. Garfield County recognizes that under Colorado law, the surface and mineral interests have certain legal rights and privileges, including the right to extract and develop these interests. Furthermore, private property owners also have certain legal rights, responsibilities and privileges, including the right to have the mineral estate developed in a reasonable manner and to have adverse land use impacts mitigated during extraction as well as requiring responsible reclamation of land after extraction processes are completed. Response. Applicant is the owner of the surface estate to be impacted under the proposed mining operation. Reclamation of this area• is designed to accommodate future residentiallcommercial development - the planned end use of the subject property. B. Garfield County will encourage a land use pattern that recognizes the environmental sensitivity of the land, does not overburden the physical capacity of the land and is in the best interests of the health, safety and welfare of Garfield County. Response. The subject property is located in close proximity to significant and developing oil and gas operations. This proximity will allow the proposed mining operation to serve the aggregate demands presented by such oil and gas operations while minimizing the impacts to the County and State road systems. Given the rural location of the subject property, impacts to residential and commercial property interests will be minimized. C. Garfield County will encourage the protection of watersheds, flood plains, river - fronts and riparian areas. a-re- -fragile rmmpnnonfs-- of- -the eGosystem -- and these areas Feel lira G aMfUl re VieW iR the planRiRg r FeE;esr, Response. The proposed mining operation does not fall within any delineated municipal watershed protection district. Additionally, such mining operations will not impact any protected wetlands and in fact, will add to the wetland ecosystem by creating wetlands where none presently exist. D. Garfield County will encourage the development of a diversified industrial base for the County which recognizes and addresses the human resources, natural resources and physical location -to- market capabilities of the community, and which fwth -,r, and addresses the social and environmental impacts of industrial uses. Response. See, response to B., above. E. Garfield County will encourageEnsure -that development and overall land use policies oozing in the County that will affect a municipality a�q to be compatible with the - exist' d future land use objectives of the appropriate municipality. Response. The subject property is not located within the any future development plan of any of the neighboring communities lain this instance either the Town of Parachute or Town of DeBeque). COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OBJECTIVES REGARDING GRAVEL EXTRACTION A. To ensure that industrial development is compatible with adjacent land uses and mitigate impacts identified during the plan review process. Response. No residential structures exist within 1000' of the proposed mining operation. Additionally, the subject property is located in the general vicinity (Una Bridge) of expanding industrial development. At present and pursuant to temporary permits issued by the County, the subject property itself is being used for a pipeline construction staging area. B. Encourage the location of industrial development in areas where visual, noise, air quality and infrastructure impacts are reduced. Response. See, response to A., above. Additionally, the proposed mining operation will be limited to mining, screening and crushing operations — neither red! -mix or asphalt batch plants are proposed. After initial overburden removal (approximately 8') mining operations will be screened by the pit created and berms. C. Ensure that the type, size and scope of industrial development is consistent with the long -term land use objectives of the County. Response. This proposed operation is temporary in nature (anticipated 10 year life span) and is planned for future residential development — a use allowed by right under the subject property's zone district D. Ensure that Zoning Regulations addressing Industrial uses reflect the changing land use patterns and demographics of the County and encourage the further diversification of the County's economy. Response. See, response to Comprehensive Plan Goal B. E. Visual corridors are considered an important physical attribute of the County and policies will reflect the need to carefully plan these areas. Response. See, Response to B., above. F, Ensure the compatibility of development proposals with existing farms and ranches and ensure that active agricultural uses and existing residential uses are buffered from higher- intensity adjacent uses. Response. The proposed mining operation will not impact any agricultural used within the subject property. The nearest neighboring agricultural use lies south of the subject property, across the Colorado River. As such, no impacts to agricultural uses will occur. 2 1. Garfield County encourages °repe e d - :11 be req Uirn.� f., specific project design to recognize the physical features of the land and design projects in a manner that is compatible with the physical environment. Response. The subject property is presently zoned, pursuant to Special Use Permit approval, as a gravel mining operation. J. Garfield County will ensure that specifically identified natural, scenic and ecological resources and critical wildlife habitats are Prated recognized as important assets. Response. No such specifically identified resources or habitats will be impacted. See Generally, Narrative Statement and Response to Supplementary Gravel Extraction Regulations provided herewith. K. The County will require adequate mitigation to address impacts of mineral extraction on private property owners, without undue burden on the legal rights of mineral owners or lessees. Response. See, response to Comprehensive Goal A. Limited as such to 40.7 acres of disturbance, no impacts to mineral lessees or owners will occur. L. The County, through the implementation of the Comprehensive Plan, Zoning and Special Use Permit policies, will address future compatibility issues with current mining operations. Response. No response required M. The Garfield County will activities to adequately m_itii environment, including air important visual resources. Response. See Generally, Supplementary Gravel Extrac• ensure that encourage mineral extraction Late will net adversely affects on the natural quality, water quality, wildlife habitat or Narrative Statement and Response to Eion Regulations provided herewith. 111. COMPREHENSIVE PLAN POLICIES REGARDING GRAVEL EXTRACTION A. The project review process will include the identification and mitigation of transportation impacts related to industrial development. Response. Applicable permit applications have and will be made with Garfield County (Driveway) and the Colorado Department of Transportation (Access Permit to State Highway 6&24) Garfield County shall discourage and reseFve the right to deny development that cannot be _adequately mitigated in areas identified as having severe 3 :. ,!;. environmental constraints such as active landslides, debris flows, unstable slopes, bedrock slides, major mudflows, radioactive tailings. Response. No such constraints exist within the subject property. 'A te - r:= :G1kl: iscou rage -4&vel o prne nt prGpesaMW-at -4&v- require - V6g9tatiOR FerAeval, cut and fill areas aFether physiGal MOdifiGatiGRS thai will result in C. Natural drainage patterns will be preserved or mitigated so the cumulative impact of public and private land use activities will not cause storm drainage and floodwater patterns to exceed the capacity of natural or constructed drainage ways, or to subject other areas to an increased potential for damage due to flooding, erosion or sedimentation or result in pollution to streams, rivers or other natural bodies of water. Response. All such impacts will be either preserved or mitigated. See, Stormwater Management Plan and Drainage report contained within the Narrative Statement provided herewith. _z - • : - F. Garfield County will require development to protect critical wildlife habitat n ede4 may state and fedeFally pf9teGted,thFeater'c�ned OF end ngefe species as identified by state and federal agencies_ Development within these designations that cannot be designed, constructed and conducted so as to have a minimum adverse impact upon such habitat or these wildlife species, shall be discouraged; however,he 1•ll lFT'F it nmm�nr- c�{'inn �c rncS'lf of n 'ng signifi&c�wjldfife-- 14a- Wtat.. Response. No such critical wildlife habitat exists within the subject property. See, Wildlife Report and Wetlands Delineation Report contained within the Narrative Statement provided herewith. G. Garfield County, to the extent legally possible, will require adequate mitigation to address the impacts of mineral extraction on adjacent landowners. These measures may include the following: I. Landscaping and screening; Response. Proposed Operations will be landscaped and screened. See, response to Comprehensive Plan Objective 3. 11. Modification of phasing or area to be mined; Response. Mining and reclamation will be phased. See, Mining and Reclamation Plans contained within the Narrative Statement provided herewith. 4 III. Roadway improvements and signage; Response. All roadway improvements and signage will be constructed in accordance with the required County and State permits above identified- IV. Safe and efficient access routes; Response. See, response to Ill., above. V. Drainage improvements to protect surface and groundwater. Response. All drainage will be conducted pursuant to the approved Drainage Study. G. Garfield County will require adequate mitigation for dust, odors, and fumes generated by .gravel extraction activities. Response. All such impacts will be mitigated. See, Dust Control Plan contained the Narrative Statement provided herewith.