HomeMy WebLinkAbout20011973.tiff freak & May Yokoojl
f4673 Weld County Road 6
Rilyhtoa, CO 00603-933! 1 ' ;; - -
303-659-3310
May 16, 2001
Mr. Robert Masden
Weld County Commissioner for Dist. 3
P.O. Box 148
Hudson, CO 80642
Dear Mr. Masden,
On April 17, 2001 Frank, and our son Tom Yokooji, attended a Weld County Planning
Commission meeting in Greeley to listen to the issues and express our concerns over
Case Number USR 1324 brought forth by the Asphalt Specialties Company, Inc. Asphalt
Specialties has purchased a parcel of land adjacent to WCR 27, '4 mile north of WCR 6
with plans to build and operate a concrete and asphalt processing plant and materials
storage area. After much discussion, verbal testimony and promises of future mitigation
the planning commission recommended approval of USR 1324 by a split vote of 4 to 3.
It is our understanding that the planning commission's recommendation for approval is
only a recommendation, and the final approval does rest with the County Commissioners
in a future meeting, to be announced.
It was at the April 17th meeting that we and our neighbors began to reali79 the
significance of future impacts the proposed asphalt and cement processing plant may
have upon our daily lives. At the meeting, issues of environment, pollution, noise,
aesthetics, and excessive heavy truck traffic were revealed and discussed by the planning
commission, company representatives and community members. Unfortunately, the
notification of this meeting was very limited and only mailed to individuals that own
property within 500 feet of the proposed cement and asphalt plant. There are many other
stakeholders that will be impacted by the decision to approve or deny USR 1324. Since
the meeting on April 17th, we and others in our community have shared information and
have heard concerns being expressed from residents that are not property owners as well
as area property owners or business owners that reside outside the 500 foot boundary.
Of the many concerns that result from the proposed cement and asphalt plant, the
increased heavy truck and semi-truck traffic has surfaced as the major safety concern for
us as well as others in our community. The Asphalt Specialties Company representative
estimated the daily traffic in and out of their site to average 385 vehicles per day, of
which 300 would be the company 's large cement or asphalt trucks hauling their product
or aggregate materials to/or from the plant site. We have gathered from the 04/17/01
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meeting that the main truck haul route will most likely be WCR 27, WCR 6 and US 85
for both outbound and inbound vehicles. With an additional 385 vehicles added to our
current local traffic we fear the volume and traffic noise on WCR 6 will become
excessive. Our residence is located at 12673 WCR 6, and is approximately 500 feet East
of US 85.
The agriculture farms along WCR 27 between Brighton and Fort Lupton are among the
most productive farmland in the area. The safe transportation of slower and extra wide
farming equipment(tractors,wagons, discs and cultivators) from field to field along
WCR 27, WCR 6 & WCR 8 are an occupational necessity for the farmers in this area as
farm implements are prohibited from travel on US 85. The width and physical condition
of WCR 27 and WCR 6 & 8 are not conducive for heavy truck traffic to be combined
with the slower farm vehicles, as the roads are narrow and the shoulders are soft. Forcing
the area farmers to coexist with industrial businesses and truck drivers who believe that
time is money will create a safety concern. Without a direct route for the farmers to
safely transport their equipment from site to site the farms in this area will eventually
perish.
The resolution proposed by the planning commission and agreed to by the asphalt
company was a driver training educational program. Several critical and key details of
this plan were not outlined and have not been shared with any of us. Critical details such
as who will be responsible to monitor this classes? How will the company insure the
required classes are taken by all drivers on an annual basis? Will training sessions be
held with sufficient frequency to accommodate new drivers before they are on the road?
What will be the accountability of the company if a driver refuses training, fails to take
the class or fails to demonstrate courtesy and safe practices on the road? In simple terms,
is the fox going to be assigned the duty to watch the hen house?
At the corner of US 85 and WCR 6 is a residential trailer park called Sierra Vista. The
manager of Sierra Vista has provided the following information that should be
considered, some of which have serious implications to the traffic issue we expressed
earlier. The trailer park has a population of 263 residents. Approximately 100 to 120
cars exit and enter the facility on a daily basis, or a total of 200-240 cars per day. The
Fort Lupton School District has six school buses that load and unload students along
WCR 6 on a daily basis during the school year. The number of bus routes is reduced to
2-3 busses during the summer months. Average loading and unloading time is 5-10
minutes per bus. It would seem logical that if the Asphalt Specialties Company
anticipates an additional 385 vehicles per day on WCR 6 we can anticipate serious traffic
concerns.
We realize that the pressure and money of big business may have little concern or could
care less about issues that affect our personal quality of life and the safety of long time
residents and farming employees in our community. We are quickly forgotten and
ignored once the special permits are approved and the company is up and operating.
When contract deadlines and project deadlines begin to negatively affect the company's
revenues, the company's profits will always have precedent over community relations.
Then again, 300 asphalt trucks are not passing within 50 feet of their home 6 or 7 days a
week, and the company CEO does not have to live in our location.
We strongly encourage a NO VOTE of the Weld County Commissioners on Case No.
USR 1324 brought forth by the Asphalt Specialties Company Inc.
There are many potential solutions that can be offered to resolve or minimize the severity
of the impact that Asphalt Specialties Company, Inc. might have on our community. We
offer the following alternatives.
1. Since the major highway route to be used by the asphalt company is US 85, we feel
the location of the cement and asphalt company should be along and adjacent to the
US 85 corridor and have DIRECT access to and from US 85. This can be a viable
solution and can resolve many of the heavy traffic and traffic safety issues on WCR
27 and WCR 6. Issues of noise, environment, aesthetics and pollution would still
have to be addressed. This is a win-win compromise.
2. If relocation is not a viable option, a plea or suggestion would be to recommend two
separate haul routes be used, depending upon the truck/vehicle's destination or origin.
If the truck/vehicle is to deliver to/or from a location North of the plant the haul route
should utilize WCR 27, WCR 8 and US 85 to the North. If the truck/vehicle is to
deliver to/or from a location South of the plant the haul route should utilize WCR 27,
WCR 6 and US 85 to the South. This proposal does not resolve any of the initial
concerns, but does reduce and divide the volume and frequency of truck traffic over
two separate routes. Some may call it spreading the misery that should not be
allowed in the first place. This is not a compromise but a win-lose-lose
recommendation.
We would like to thank you for taking the time to read our concerns on this issue. The
majority of our friends and neighbors are anxiously waiting for the notification of the
County Commissioners Meeting that will address this special permit issue. We are
hoping that by providing you with a summary of our community issues in advance of the
meeting that you could research our concerns and support opposition to the Asphalt
Specialties proposal. If you or other commissioners have clarifying questions of us or if
you have any additional information you can share with us related to the proposal or the
approval process please feel free to contact us either by mail or phone at 303-659-3310.
If you have the time, a written response will be appreciated.
Sincerely,
Frank Yokooji May Yokooji
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