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HomeMy WebLinkAbout20123394.tiff -at-sae r,! — LAND USE APPLICATION SUMMARY SHEET Planner: C. Gathman Case Number: USR12-0056 Hearing Date: October 16, 2012 Applicant: Wattenberg Holding, LLC C/O Kevin Trenski - Eckel &Associates, Inc. & Noble Energy - Greg Pickerel Address: Eckel &Associates - 1757 Broadway St, Suite 3, Oviedo, FL 32765 Noble Energy- 2115 117th Avenue, Greeley, CO. 80634 Request: A Site Specific Development Plan and Use by Special Review Permit for a Mineral Resource Development Facility including an Oil and Gas Support and Service Facility (Crude oil truck unloading and oil polishing facility, compressor facility, central processing facility, tank & pipeline storage, and water recycling facility) in the A (Agricultural) Zone District. Legal Description: E2 of Section 25, T8N, R63W of the 6th PM, Weld County, Colorado Location: South of and adjacent to State Highway 14 and 1.5 miles east of County Road 69. Size of Parcel: +/- 321.71 Acres (operation area: +/- 80 acres) Parcel Number: 0547 25 000007 POSSIBLE ISSUES SUMMARIZED FROM APPLICATION MATERIALS The criteria for review of this Special Review Permit are listed in Section 23-2-220 of the Weld County Code. The Department of Planning Services' staff has received responses from the following agencies: Without Comments: Weld County Sheriff's Office, referral received 8/13/2012 Weld County Zoning Compliance, referral received 8/10/2012 With Comments: Weld County Department of Public Works, referral received 9/7/2012 Weld County Department of Public Health & Environment, referral received 9/5/2012 Weld County Department of Building Inspection, referral received 8/17/2012 Colorado Division of Water Resources, referrals dated 8/15/2012 &9/18/2012 West Greeley Soil Conservation District, referral dated 8/23/2012 Colorado Department of Transportation, referral received 9/17/2012 The following agencies have not responded: Emergency Management Office Colorado Parks&Wildlife Colorado Oil &Gas Commission Briggsdale Fire Protection District USR12-0056, Wattenberg Holding, LLC & Noble Energy, Page 1 a lE SPECIAL REVIEW PERMIT ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW Planner: C. Gathman Case Number: USR12-0056 Hearing Date: October 16, 2012 Applicant: Wattenberg Holding, LLC - C/O Kevin Trenski - Eckel &Associates, Inc. & Noble Energy - Greg Pickerel Site Address: Eckel &Associates - 1757 Broadway St, Suite 3, Oviedo, FL 32765 Noble Energy- 2115 117th Avenue, Greeley, CO. 80634 Request: A Site Specific Development Plan and Use by Special Review Permit for a Mineral resource development facility - an Oil and Gas Support and Service Facility (Crude oil truck unloading and oil polishing facility, compressor facility, central processing facility, tank& pipeline storage, and water recycling facility) in the A (Agricultural) Zone District. Legal Description: E2 of Section 25, T8N, R63W of the 6th PM, Weld County, Colorado Location: South of and adjacent to State Highway 14 and 1.5 miles east of County Road 69. Size of Parcel: +/- 321.71 acres (Operations Area: +/- 80 acres) Parcel Number: 0547 25 000007 Description of Use: As stated in the application materials, the applicant is proposing an oil and gas support facility consisting of 4 truck offloading bays with the potential for 4 additional offloading bays in the future. Oil that is offloaded with more than 0.3% water will be sent to the polisher facility. Oil will be sent to a heater to separate water from the oil. Then the water will be sent to tanks to be picked up by truck and hauled to a disposal facility. The remaining oil will then be sent to tanks at the truck unloading facility that will then be pumped offsite. A compressor station and central processing facility are also proposed. The central processing facility will receive oil, gas and water coming via pipe from wells surrounding the site and send the gas to the proposed compressor facility, water will be sent to the recycling facility or hauled to a disposal facility, and oil will be sent offsite via pipeline by Wattenberg Holding, LLC. The applicant is also proposing a water recycling facility. The specific plans for the water recycling facility have not been designed/submitted and will require review and approval by the Colorado Oil and Gas Commission and County Agencies prior to construction of the facility. The applicant is also proposing storage area for tanks and pipes for onsite and offsite projects (new equipment). THE DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING SERVICES' STAFF RECOMMENDS THAT THIS REQUEST BE APPROVED FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS: 1. The submitted materials are in compliance with the application requirements of Section 23-2-260 of the Weld County Code. 2. It is the opinion of the Department of Planning Services' staff that the applicant has shown compliance with Section 23-2-220 of the Weld County Code as follows: A. Section 23-2-220.A.1 -- The proposed use is consistent with Chapter 22 and any other applicable code provisions or ordinance in effect. Section 22-2-20 G.2. A.Policy 7.2. states: "Conversion of agricultural land to nonurban residential, commercial and industrial uses should be accommodated when the subject site is in an area that can support such development, and should attempt to be compatible with the region." USR12-0056, Wattenberg Holding, LLC & Noble Energy, Page 2 Section 22-2-20 I. A.Goal 9. States: "Reduce potential conflicts between varying land uses in the conversion of traditional agricultural lands to other land uses." Section 22-2-20 1.3. A.Policy 9.3. States: "Consider mitigation techniques to address incompatibility issues. Encourage techniques and incentives, such as but not limited to clustered development and building envelopes, to minimize impacts on surrounding agricultural land." 22-2-100 A.2. OG.Policy 1.2. states: "Oil and gas support facilities which do not rely on geology for locations should locate in commercial and industrial areas, when possible, and should be subject to review in accordance with the appropriate sections of this Code." The proposed oil and gas support facility is located in a rural area. The nearest residence is located approximately 'A mile to the west of the site and the next nearest residence is located approximately 1.25 miles to the east of the site. The Townsite of Briggsdale is located approximately 2 miles east of the site. Attached Development Standards and Conditions of Approval (Noise limits and the requirement that the applicant submit a Lighting Plan) will address and mitigate impacts on the surrounding area. B. Section 23-2-220.A.2 -- The proposed use is consistent with the intent of the Agricultural (A) Zone District. Section 23-3-40.A.2 of the Weld County Code allows Mineral resource development facility - an Oil and Gas Support and Service Facilities including oil and gas support facilities as a Use by Special Review in the A (Agricultural) Zone District. C. Section 23-2-220.A.3 -- The uses which will be permitted will be compatible with the existing surrounding land uses. The site is located in a rural area. The nearest residences are located approximately 'A mile to the west and 1.25 miles to the east of the site. One e-mail has been received from a surrounding property owner expressing concerns with traffic from the facility utilizing County Road 69. The facility is proposing to access directly onto State Highway 14, County Road 69 is located approximately 1.5 miles west of the site. Attached Development Standards and Conditions of Approval (Noise limits, the requirement that the applicant submit a Lighting Plan...) will address and mitigate impacts on the surrounding area. D. Section 23-2-220.A.4 -- The uses which will be permitted will be compatible with future development of the surrounding area as permitted by the existing zoning and with the future development as projected by Chapter 22 of the Weld County Code and any other applicable code provisions or ordinances in effect, or the adopted Master Plans of affected municipalities. The site is not located within 3 miles of an incorporated municipality. E. Section 23-2-220.A.5 -- The application complies with Article V of the Weld County Code. The existing site is within the County Road Impact Fee Area and the Capital Expansion Impact Fee area. The site is not located within a recognized overlay district — including the Geologic Hazard Overlay District, floodplain and Airport Overlay District. Effective April 25, 2011, Building Permits issued on the proposed lots will be required to adhere to the fee structure of the Weld County Road Impact Program. (Ordinance 2011- 2) Effective April 25, 2011, Building Permits issued on the proposed lots, will be required to adhere to the fee structure of the County Facility Fee and Drainage Impact Fee. (Ordinance 2011-2) USR12-0056, Wattenberg Holding, LLC & Noble Energy, Page 3 F. Section 23-2-220.A.6 -- The applicant has demonstrated a diligent effort to conserve prime agricultural land in the locational decision for the proposed use. The facility is proposed to be located on land designated as "Prime If Irrigated" and "Other" according to the according to the Important Farmlands Map of Weld and Larimer Counties. The parcel is not in agricultural production. G. Section 23-2-220.A.7—There are adequate provisions for the protection of health, safety, and welfare of the inhabitants of the neighborhood and County. This recommendation is based, in part, upon a review of the application materials submitted by the applicant, other relevant information regarding the request, and responses from referral entities. The Department of Planning Services' staff recommendation for approval is conditional upon the following: 1. Prior to Recording the Plat: A. The plat shall be amended to delineate the following: 1. All sheets of the plat shall be labeled USR12-0056. (Department of Planning Services) 2. The attached Development Standards. (Department of Planning Services) 3. The plat shall be prepared in accordance with Section 23-2-260.D of the Weld County Code. (Department of Planning Services) 4. The applicant shall delineate the trash collection areas. Section 23-3-350.H of the Weld County Code addresses the issue of trash collection areas. Areas used for storage or trash collection shall be screened from adjacent public rights-of-way and adjacent properties. These areas shall be designed and used in a manner that will prevent wind or animal scattered trash. (Department of Planning Services) 5. Access to the site will be from State Highway 14; the application has been submitted and approved by CDOT (permit #412073). Please show and label on the Site Plan, the proposed access width and the turning radiuses into the site, 45'-60' radiuses required to accommodate trucks, and all CDOT improvements needed. (Department of Public Works) 6. Weld County also has 30 feet of unmaintained County right-of-way (30 feet in Sec 25, T8N, R63W, no right-of-way in Sec 30, T8N, R62W)along CR 73 section line alignment.) Verify, show and label all existing right-of-way on the Plat. (Department of Public Works) 7. The approved Lighting Plan. (Department of Planning Services) 8. The approved Sign Plan. (Department of Planning Services) 9. A total of 100-feet from the centerline of State Highway 14 shall be indicated as "edge of future Highway 14 right-of-way". (Colorado Department of Transportation) B. The applicant shall address the requirements of the Weld County Department of Public Works as stated in their referral dated September 7, 2012. The applicant shall address the following requirements: USR12-0056, Wattenberg Holding, LLC & Noble Energy, Page 4 1. Please provide a drainage report that follows the USR-SPR Drainage Report Checklist and a complete set of construction drawings that have been stamped, signed, and dated by a registered professional engineer licensed in the State of Colorado for review and approval by the Department of Public Works. Comments from the review of the submitted drainage report must be addressed in the resubmitted drainage report and on the construction drawings. The comments have been summarized and have been returned to the applicant's engineer under separate cover. 2. The applicant shall enter into an Improvements Agreement and post collateral for all on-site and off-site improvements. The improvements agreement and collateral shall be accepted by the Board of County Commissioners prior to recording the plat. (Department of Public Works) C. The applicant shall submit evidence of an Air Pollution Emission Notice (A.P.E.N.) and Emissions Permit application from the Air Pollution Control Division (APCD), Colorado Department of Health and Environment to Environmental Health Services Division of the Weld County Department of Public Health & Environment. Alternately, the applicant can provide evidence from the APCD that they are not subject to these requirements. (Department of Public Health & Environment) D. A signed copy of the Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure Plan shall be provided to Environmental Health Services Division of the Weld County Department of Public Health & Environment. (Department of Public Health & Environment) E. The applicant shall address the requirements of the Colorado Division of Resources as stated in their referral dated August 15, 2012. The applicant shall submit an approved well permit for the proposed operation. (Department of Public Health & Environment) F. The applicant shall submit evidence of an Aboveground Storage Tank permit from the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDL&E), Oil Inspection Section for any aboveground storage tanks located on the site. Alternately, the applicant can provide evidence from the (CDL&E), Oil Inspection Section that they are not subject to these requirements. (Department of Public Health & Environment) G. The applicant shall submit an updated dust abatement plan, for approval, to WCDPHE. The plan shall include at a minimum, the following: Specify all areas that will consist of asphalt. Stipulate interior roads will be gravel or asphalt. Indicate that water will be added as a dust control measure if necessary. (Department of Public Health & Environment) H. The applicant shall submit a Lighting Plan to the Department of Planning Services for review and approval. (Department of Planning Services) The applicant shall submit a Sign Plan to the Department of Planning Services, for all Facility identification signs, including location and size. (Department of Planning Services) J. An executed lease agreement between Noble Energy and Wattenburg LLC shall be provided to the Department of Planning Services. (Department of Planning Services) 2. Upon completion of 1. above the applicant shall submit three (3) paper copies of the plat for preliminary approval to the Weld County Department of Planning Services. Upon approval of the paper copies the applicant shall submit a Mylar plat along with all other documentation required as Conditions of Approval. The Mylar plat shall be recorded in the office of the Weld County Clerk and Recorder by Department of Planning Services' Staff. The plat shall be prepared in accordance with the requirements of Section 23-2-260.D of the Weld County Code. The Mylar plat and additional requirements shall be submitted within one-hundred twenty (120) days from USR12-0056, Wattenberg Holding, LLC & Noble Energy, Page 5 the date of the Board of County Commissioners resolution. The applicant shall be responsible for paying the recording fee. (Department of Planning Services) 3. In accordance with Weld County Code Ordinance 2012-3 approved 6/12/2012, should the plat not be recorded within the required one-hundred twenty (120) days from the date the Board of County Commissioners resolution a $50.00 recording continuance charge shall added for each additional 3 month period. (Department of Planning Services) 4. The Department of Planning Services respectively requests the surveyor provide a digital copy of this Use by Special Review. Acceptable CAD formats are .dwg, .dxf, and .dgn (Microstation); acceptable GIS formats are ArcView shapefiles, Arclnfo Coverages and Arclnfo Export files format type is .e00. The preferred format for Images is .tif(Group 4). (Group 6 is not acceptable). Thisdigitalfilemaybesenttomaps@co.weld.co.us. (Department of Planning Services) 5. The Special Review activity shall not occur nor shall any building or electrical permits be issued on the property until the Special Review plat is ready to be recorded in the office of the Weld County Clerk and Recorder unless a stipulated agreement for early release of building and/or electrical permits is approved by the Department of Planning Services. (Department of Planning Services) 6. Prior to Construction: A. Building permits will be required for the Oil and Gas Support and Service Facility and associated buildings and equipment. A building permit application must be completed and two complete sets of engineered plans including engineered foundation plans bearing the wet stamp of a Colorado registered architect or engineer must be submitted. A geotechnical engineering report performed by a registered State of Colorado engineer shall be required or a open hole inspection. (Department of Building Inspection) B. Buildings, equipment and structures shall conform to the requirements of the various codes adopted at the time of permit application. Currently the following has been adopted by Weld County: 2006 International Building Code; 2006 International Mechanical Code; 2006 International Plumbing Code: 2006 International Energy Code; 2006 International Fuel Gas Code; 2011 National Electrical Code; 2003 ANSI 117.1 Accessibility Code the 2006 International Plumbing Code. and Chapter 29 of the Weld County Code. (Department of Building Inspection) C. A plan review shall be approved and a permit must be issued prior to the start of construction. (Department of Building Inspection) D. In the event that 1 or more acres are disturbed during the construction and development of this site, the applicant shall obtain a stormwater discharge permit from the Water Quality Control Division of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. (Department of Public Works) E. If more than 1 acre is to be disturbed, a grading permit will be required prior to the start of construction. The grading permit application must contain: an erosion and sediment control plan, a grading plan, installation details of all BMPs to be utilized, typical installation and maintenance notes for all BMPs to be utilized, and a copy of the approved CDPHE stormwater permit. (Department of Public Works) F. A detailed design and operations plan for the truck thaw building shall be submitted to WCDPHE for review and approval. The design shall demonstrate how all spilled waste, stormwater and wash down water will be contained. The design shall also include the method to prevent leakage. A leak detection system shall be designed and installed beneath the washout bay. The truck washout shall be constructed and operated in accordance with the approved design. (Department of Public Health & Environment) USR12-0056, Wattenberg Holding, LLC & Noble Energy, Page 6 7. Prior to the Issuance of Certificate of Occupancy: A. An individual sewage disposal system is required for the proposed facility and shall be installed according to the Weld County Individual Sewage Disposal Regulations. The septic system is required to be designed by a Colorado Registered Professional Engineer according to the Weld County Individual Sewage Disposal Regulations. (Department of Public Health & Environment) USR12-0056, Wattenberg Holding, LLC & Noble Energy, Page 7 SITE SPECIFIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN SPECIAL REVIEW PERMIT DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS Noble Energy/Wattenburg LLC USR12-0056 1. A Site Specific Development Plan and Use by Special Review Permit for a Mineral resource development facility - an Oil and Gas Support and Service Facility (Crude oil truck unloading and oil polishing facility, compressor facility, central processing facility tank & pipeline storage and water recycling facility) in the A (Agricultural) Zone District. (Department of Planning Services) 2. Approval of this plan may create a vested property right pursuant to Section 23-8-10 of the Weld County Code. (Department of Planning Services) 3. The number of full-time on-site employees shall be limited to five (5) as stated in the application materials. (Department of Planning Services) 4. The facility operates twenty-four (24) hours a day, seven (7) days a week. (Department of Planning Services) 5. Specific plans for the non-commercial water recycling facility will be required to be submitted and reviewed by Weld County and the Colorado Oil and Gas Commission. The water recycling facility component may require a minor amendment to this USR. (Department of Planning Services) 6. All liquid and solid wastes (as defined in the Solid Wastes Disposal Sites and Facilities Act, 30-20-100.5, C.R.S., as amended) shall be stored and removed for final disposal in a manner that protects against surface and groundwater contamination. (Department of Public Health & Environment) 7. No permanent disposal of wastes shall be permitted at this site. This is not meant to include those wastes specifically excluded from the definition of a solid waste in the Solid Wastes Disposal Sites and Facilities Act, 30-20-100.5, C.R.S., as amended. (Department of Public Health & Environment) 8. Waste materials shall be handled, stored, and disposed in a manner that controls fugitive dust, blowing debris, and other potential nuisance conditions. (Department of Public Health & Environment) 9. The applicant shall operate in accordance with the approved "waste handling plan", at all times. (Department of Public Health & Environment) 10. The Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure Plan shall be available on site, at all times. (Department of Public Health & Environment) 11. The applicant shall comply with all provisions of the Underground and Above Ground Storage Tank Regulations. (Department of Public Health & Environment) 12. Fugitive dust and fugitive particulate emissions shall be controlled on this site. The facility shall be operated in accordance with the approved "dust abatement plan" at all times. (Department of Public Health & Environment) 13. This facility shall adhere to the maximum permissible noise levels allowed in the Industrial Zone as delineated in Section 14-9-30 of the Weld County Code or all applicable State noise statutes and/or regulations. (Department of Public Health & Environment) 14. The operation shall comply with all applicable oil and gas operations regulated by the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission. (Department of Public Health & Environment) USR12-0056, Wattenberg Holding, LLC & Noble Energy, Page 8 15. In accordance with the Underground and Above Ground Storage Tank Regulations (7 CCR 1101- 14) a spillage retention berm shall be constructed around the aboveground fuel tanks. The volume retained by the spillage berm should be greater than the volume of the largest tank inside the berm. Alternative protective measures may be allowed provided they comply with the Above Ground Storage Tank Regulations. (Department of Public Health & Environment) 16. The truck thaw building shall be operated in accordance with the approved design and operations plan. (Department of Public Health & Environment) 17. The facility shall be constructed and operated to ensure that contamination of soil and groundwater does not occur. (Department of Public Health & Environment) 18. Any petroleum contaminated soils on the facility shall be removed, treated or disposed of in accordance with all applicable rules and regulations. (Department of Public Health & Environment) 19. Sewage disposal for the facility shall be by septic system. Any septic system located on the property must comply with all provisions of the Weld County Code, pertaining to Individual Sewage Disposal Systems. (Department of Public Health & Environment) 20. A permanent, adequate water supply shall be provided for drinking and sanitary purposes. (Department of Public Health & Environment) 21. This application is proposing a well as its source of water. The applicant should be made aware that while they may be able to obtain a well permit from the Office of the State Engineer, Division of Water Resources, the quantity of water available for usage may be limited to specific uses, i.e. inside use only, etc. Also, the applicant should be made aware that groundwater may not meet all drinking water standards as defined by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. We strongly encourage the applicant to test their drinking water prior to consumption and periodically test it over time. (Department of Public Health & Environment) 22. Adequate handwashing and toilet facilities shall be provided for employees and patrons of the facility, at all times. (Department of Public Health & Environment) 23. All potentially hazardous chemicals must be stored and handled in a safe manner in accordance with product labeling and in a manner that minimizes the release of hazardous air pollutants (HAP's) and volatile organic compounds (VOC's). All chemicals must be stored secure, on an impervious surface, and in accordance with manufacturer's recommendations. (Department of Public Health & Environment) 24. If applicable, the applicant shall obtain a stormwater discharge permit from the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment (CDPH&E), Water Quality Control Division. (Department of Public Health & Environment) 25. The operation shall comply with all applicable rules and regulations of State and Federal agencies and the Weld County Code. (Department of Public Health & Environment) 26. A building permit shall be obtained prior to the construction of any new structures. Currently the following has been adopted by Weld County: 2006 International Building Code; 2006 International Mechanical Code; 2006 International Plumbing Code; 2006 International Fuel Gas Code; and the 2011 National Electrical Code and Chapter 29 of the Weld County Code. (Department of Building Inspection) 27. Provide letter of notification from the Briggsdale Fire Protection District prior to any new construction. (Department of Building Inspection) 28. Effective April 25, 2011, Building Permits issued on the proposed lots will be required to adhere to the fee structure of the Weld County Road Impact Program. (Ordinance 2011-2) USR12-0056, Wattenberg Holding, LLC & Noble Energy, Page 9 29. Effective April 25, 2011, Building Permits issued on the proposed lots, will be required to adhere to the fee structure of the County Facility Fee and Drainage Impact Fee. (Ordinance 2011-2) 30. The property owner or operator shall be responsible for complying with the Design Standards of Section 23-2-240, Weld County Code. 31. The property owner or operator shall be responsible for complying with the Operation Standards of Section 23-2-250, Weld County Code. 32. Sources of light shall be shielded so that light rays will not shine directly onto adjacent properties where such would cause a nuisance or interfere with the use on the adjacent properties in accordance with the plan. Neither the direct nor reflected light from any light source may create a traffic hazard to operators of motor vehicles on public or private streets. No colored lights may be used which may be confused with or constructed as traffic control devices. (Department of Planning Services) 33. Pursuant to Chapter 15, Articles I and II of the Weld County Code, if noxious weeds exist on the property or become established as a result of the proposed development, the applicant/landowner shall be responsible for controlling the noxious weeds. (Department of Public Works) 34. Off-street parking spaces including the access drive shall be surfaced with gravel, asphalt, recycled asphalt base, concrete or the equivalent and shall be graded to prevent drainage problems. (Department of Public Works) 35. Necessary personnel from the Weld County Departments of Planning Services, Public Works, and Public Health and Environment shall be granted access onto the property at any reasonable time in order to ensure the activities carried out on the property comply with the Conditions of Approval and Development Standards stated herein and all applicable Weld County regulations. 36. The historical flow patterns and runoff amounts will be maintained on site in such a manner that it will reasonably preserve the natural character of the area and prevent property damage of the type generally attributed to run-off rate and velocity increases, diversions, concentration and/or unplanned ponding of storm run-off. (Department of Public Works) 37. The applicant must take into consideration storm water capture/quantity and provide accordingly for best management practices. (Department of Public Works) 38. Weld County is not responsible for the maintenance of onsite drainage related features. (Department of Public Works) 39. The Special Review area shall be limited to the plans shown hereon and governed by the foregoing standards and all applicable Weld County regulations. Substantial changes from the plans or Development Standards as shown or stated shall require the approval of an amendment of the Permit by the Weld County Board of County Commissioners before such changes from the plans or Development Standards are permitted. Any other changes shall be filed in the office of the Department of Planning Services. 40. The property owner or operator shall be responsible for complying with all of the foregoing Development Standards. Noncompliance with any of the foregoing Development Standards may be reason for revocation of the Permit by the Board of County Commissioners. 41. WELD COUNTY'S RIGHT TO FARM: Weld County is one of the most productive agricultural counties in the United States, typically ranking in the top ten counties in the country in total market value of agricultural products sold. The rural areas of Weld County may be open and spacious, but they are intensively used for agriculture. Persons moving into a rural area must recognize and accept there are drawbacks, including conflicts with long-standing agricultural USR12-0056, Wattenberg Holding, LLC & Noble Energy, Page 10 practices and a lower level of services than in town. Along with the drawbacks come the incentives which attract urban dwellers to relocate to rural areas: open views, spaciousness, wildlife, lack of city noise and congestion, and the rural atmosphere and way of life. Without neighboring farms, those features which attract urban dwellers to rural Weld County would quickly be gone forever. Agricultural users of the land should not be expected to change their long-established agricultural practices to accommodate the intrusions of urban users into a rural area. Well-run agricultural activities will generate off-site impacts, including noise from tractors and equipment; slow-moving farm vehicles on rural roads; dust from animal pens, field work, harvest and gravel roads; odor from animal confinement, silage and manure; smoke from ditch burning; flies and mosquitoes; hunting and trapping activities; shooting sports, legal hazing of nuisance wildlife; and the use of pesticides and fertilizers in the fields, including the use of aerial spraying. It is common practice for agricultural producers to utilize an accumulation of agricultural machinery and supplies to assist in their agricultural operations. A concentration of miscellaneous agricultural materials often produces a visual disparity between rural and urban areas of the County. Section 35-3.5- 102, C.R.S., provides that an agricultural operation shall not be found to be a public or private nuisance if the agricultural operation alleged to be a nuisance employs methods or practices that are commonly or reasonably associated with agricultural production. Water has been, and continues to be, the lifeline for the agricultural community. It is unrealistic to assume that ditches and reservoirs may simply be moved "out of the way" of residential development. When moving to the County, property owners and residents must realize they cannot take water from irrigation ditches, lakes, or other structures, unless they have an adjudicated right to the water. Weld County covers a land area of approximately four thousand (4,000) square miles in size (twice the size of the State of Delaware) with more than three thousand seven hundred (3,700) miles of state and County roads outside of municipalities. The sheer magnitude of the area to be served stretches available resources. Law enforcement is based on responses to complaints more than on patrols of the County, and the distances which must be traveled may delay all emergency responses, including law enforcement, ambulance, and fire. Fire protection is usually provided by volunteers who must leave their jobs and families to respond to emergencies. County gravel roads, no matter how often they are bladed, will not provide the same kind of surface expected from a paved road. Snow removal priorities mean that roads from subdivisions to arterials may not be cleared for several days after a major snowstorm. Services in rural areas, in many cases, will not be equivalent to municipal services. Rural dwellers must, by necessity, be more self-sufficient than urban dwellers. People are exposed to different hazards in the County than in an urban or suburban setting. Farm equipment and oil field equipment, ponds and irrigation ditches, electrical power for pumps and center pivot operations, high speed traffic, sandburs, puncture vines, territorial farm dogs and livestock, and open burning present real threats. Controlling children's activities is important, not only for their safety, but also for the protection of the farmer's livelihood. USR12-0056, Wattenberg Holding, LLC & Noble Energy, Page 11 H N DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING SERVICES $6i 1555 N 17th AVE GREELEY, CO 80631 WEBSITE: www.co.weld.co.us E-MAIL: cgathman@co.weld.co.us PHONE: (970)353-6100, Ext. 3537 p - i FAX: (970)304-6498 r September 25, 2012 Kevin Trenski 1757 Broadway St, Suite 3 Oviedo, Florida 32765 Subject: USR12-0056 - A Site Specific Development Plan and Use by Special Review Permit for a Mineral resource development facility - an Oil and Gas Support and Service Facility (Crude oil truck unloading and oil polishing facility, compressor facility, central processing facility and future water recycling facility) in the A (Agricultural)Zone District. On parcel(s) of land described as: E2 SECTION 25, T8N, R63W of the 6th P.M., Weld County, Colorado. Dear Applicants: I have scheduled a meeting with the Weld County Planning Commission on October 16, 2012, at 1:30 p.m. A subsequent hearing with the Board of County Commissioners will be held on November 7, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. Both hearings will be held in the Hearing Room, Weld County Administration Building, 1150 O Street, Greeley, Colorado. It is recommended that you and/or a representative be in attendance to answer any questions the Planning Commission members or Board of County Commissioners may have. Colorado Revised Statute, C.R.S.24-65.5-103 (adopted as part of H.B.01-1088) requires notification of all mineral estate owners 30 days prior to any public hearing. The applicant needs to provide the Weld County Planning Department with written certification indicating the above requirement has been met. A representative from the Department of Planning Services will be out to the property a minimum of ten days prior to the hearing to post a sign adjacent to and visible from a publicly maintained road right-of-way which identifies the hearing time, date, and location. In the event the property is not adjacent to a publicly maintained road right-of-way, one sign will be posted in the most prominent place on the property and a second sign posted at the point at which the driveway (access drive) intersects a publicly maintained road right-of-way. The Department of Planning Services' staff will make a recommendation concerning this application to the Weld County Planning Commission and will be included in the staff report one week prior to the scheduled Planning Commission hearing. You may view the staff report at www.weldcountyplann ingcases.orq If you have any questions concerning this matter, please call. Respectfully, Chris Gathman Planner N DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING SERVICES 1-•••e-t- 1555 N 17th AVE GREELEY, CO 80631 WEBSITE: www.co.weld.co.us E-MAIL: cgathman@co.weld.co.us r. PHONE: (970) 353-6100, Ext. 3537 C V T FAX: (970) 304-6498 t. August 10, 2012 Kevin Trenski 1757 Broadway St, Suite 3 Oviedo, Florida 32765 Greg Pickerel 2115 117th Ave Greeley, CO 80634 Subject: USR12-0056 - A Site Specific Development Plan and Use by Special Review Permit for a Mineral resource development facility - an Oil and Gas Support and Service Facility (Crude oil truck unloading and oil polishing facility, compressor facility and central processing facility) in the A (Agricultural)Zone District. On parcel(s) of land described as: E2 SECTION 25, T8N, R63W of the 6th P.M., Weld County, Colorado. Dear Applicants: Your application and related materials for the request described above are complete and in order at this time. I will schedule a meeting with you at the end of the review period to discuss the referral comments received by our office. If you have any questions concerning this matter, please call. Respectfully, Digitally signed by Kristine Ranslem f/ L Reason:'am the author of this document it (/V bJ4-1 „, lA,,,,a Location:1555 N 17th Ave Date:2012 O8.10 11:47:44'06'00' Chris Gathman Planner FIELD CHECK inspection dates: 10/5/2012 APPLICANT: Wattenberg Holding, LLC O/O Kevin Trenski - Eckel &Associates, Inc. & Noble Energy - Greg Pickerel CASE #: USR12-0056 REQUEST: A Site Specific Development Plan and Use by Special Review Permit for a Mineral Resource Development Facility including an Oil and Gas Support and Service Facility(Crude oil truck unloading and oil polishing facility, compressor facility, central processing facility, tank & pipeline storage, and water recycling facility) in the A (Agricultural)Zone District. LEGAL: E2 of Section 25, T8N, R63W of the 6th PM, Weld County, Colorado. LOCATION: South of and adjacent to State Highway 14 and 1.5 miles east of County Road 69. PARCEL ID #: 0547 25 000007 ACRES: +/- 321.71 Acres (operation area: +/- 80 acres) Zoning Land Use N A N Rural Land E A E Rural Land S A S Rural Land W A W Rural Land COMMENTS: Nearest residences located approximately 1.5 and 'A mile from the site. ----- Chris Gathman - Planner III Hello