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HomeMy WebLinkAbout20011943.tiff April30, 2001 CASE MUMf3ER USR (3Z7 To Whom It May Concern: We,James and Elizabeth Holman,of 28333 WCR 388 Kersey,CO, located one eighth of a mile east of Cockroft Dairy,and within five hundred feet from the dairy to our property line of Section 14, strongly protest the expansion of the Cockroft Dairy for reasons listed below. 1. The Planning Department should never allow this dairy to operate on both sides of this busy paved highway. A bulk of the feed(hay and ensilage),is stored across the highway form the dairy itself. The calf pens are also located across the highway from the dairy feeding trucks and front end loaders that move back,forth, across, up,and down this section of the two block long highway that runs through the dairy. 2. Within the last two years I have experienced three close-call driving accidents through this area when trucks have pulled out in front of me. A tractor moving down the highway after dark with no lights and a front end loader have also pulled out in front of me on the highway when coming from the calf pens to cross the road. I have continuously had to swerve into the on-coming lane of traffic to miss from being hit on the passenger side. It missed us by mere inches and my wife and I could have been seriously injured or killed. 3. This section is almost always covered with spilled grain,manure, and mud from equipment moving back and forth across the highway. It is especially bad after a rain and the mud covers the entire road. 4. Having a dairy of this size situated next to the South Platte River is an environmental disaster. I have seen the holding ponds overflow and it has run through my property approximately eight hundred feet before it goes into the South Platte River. I have also seen it being pumped from the holding pond through my property to the river. This is occurring in the late evening usually after dark. It has also been pumped to the farmland north of the dairy,but not too often. Please check with E.P.A. for information on violations concerning this problem. 5. More cows mean more odor in the evenings when the air is heavy. The smell is so rancid it takes our breath away. It is impossible to enjoy an evening outside. 6. As recently as the afternoon on Friday,April 20,I observed the Cockroft Dairy farm pumping their holding ponds to the north northern upper end of their field where the proposed holding would be. It was being pumped into the irrigation ditch then released onto the field. This water and sludge ran through the field to the south end to the bar pit next to the road of WCR 388. Then running east next to the road within about 350 feet of my residence where it goes south under the road through a culvert to drain onto my property before it runs into the South Platte River. It was the stench of the greenish brown water filling the air that alerted me to this situation. The Environmental Protection Agency was called. They concurred that the river was being polluted from the fields of the Cockroft farm. Allowing the proposed holding ponds to be built according to their design is no assurance that this type of practice of pumping the pond through the field into the South Platte River will discontinue. As you can see,there are many legitimate reasons as to why the Cockroft Dairy should not be allowed to expand. There is not enough room,it's dangerous to the public, it's messy, and the odor is terrible. Please take into consideration these many reasons that we have acknowledged above,and don't allow this dairy to expand even more and endanger public safety. Thank you for your time. Si cerely, a_-ett 2001-1943 Jamesqnd Elizabeth Holman EXHIBIT 32 May 1, 2001 To: Weld County Planning Commision and Weld County Commisioners Re: Cockroft Dairy Expansion I have grave concerns about this expansion, particularly the activity to the North of W.C.R. 388. There has been many near miss accidents at that location because of all types of vehicles crossing Road 388 at all times of the day without much regard for traffic on the highway, with tractors, loaders, feed trucks, semi-trucks and other smaller vehicles, to service activities on the North side, is a definite traffic hazard. Most people have to slow down to 25 to 30 M.P.H. because of employee vehicles, including semi's parked on County Road Right of Way. I am definitely opposed to any approval of present activities and any expansion to the North side of Road 388. I've had a few close calls of accidents there myself I am also opposed to the new location of their Lagoon System, which will be located just to the west and within one-fourth mile of our property, westerly winds will bring the odor directly to our home. I recommend a location further South, closer to the Cockroft yard. All Members of the Planning Commision should drive out to view the premises before hand, to know what they will be voting on. There need to be many restrictions put on the operation even as it exists today, but particularly if any expansion should get approval. Pumping lagoon water waste directly into the Platte River has been a frequent occurance from this dairy without regard of pollution and should be monitored closely. My three main points of opposition are: 1. No approval of or expansion North of W.C.R. 388 2. Must lessen present traffic hazards on W.C.R. 388 3. Do not locate lagoon to proposed area, but put further to South end of property. So, please have some consideration for all the close neighbors to this operation and do not approve this expansion. As cattle numbers are already overcrowded and cleanliness of facilities and animals is something left to be desired. Sincerely, _�� iYs A/ c co z H H a N (D (D (D o cs Na rm's a*, ro c O ••,11;;Itef; k +C`;4� , .�. 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Lockman: This letter is in support of a decision in favor of granting a Special Usc Permit to Cockroft. Dairy Farms . As individuals and a company, we have a long-term relationship with Cockroft Dairy Farms and the Cockroft family. The Cockroft family has a long history of involvement in Weld County agriculture in dairy as well as other farming and livestock operations. Since assuming management control of the dairy, Scott Cockroft has a long-term plan to improve the dairy: As resources have permitted, he has sought to improve the management techniques on the dairy as well as address environmental concerns. We have been directly involved with the improvements at the dairy and have assisted with input to the longer-term plan. We feel Cookrofts are committed to the long-term and will do what it takes to meet both • business and regulatory requirements . Dairies are one of the most sought after industries in agriculture. The reason is their economic impact on an area. From direct employment to the collateral jobs created for their suppliers, dairies create a desirable economic base. We would recommend approval their request for a Special use Permit. r. Sincerely, Jo n Adams 'P. sident EXHIBIT Hello