HomeMy WebLinkAbout20222341.tiffHEARING CERTIFICATION
DOCKET NO. 2022-60
RE: A SITE SPECIFIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN AND USE BY SPECIAL REVIEW PERMIT,
USR22-0015, FOR USES SIMILAR TO A RESEARCH LABORATORY (ROCKET
TESTING FACILITY) IN THE A (AGRICULTURAL) ZONE DISTRICT - AGCOUNTRY
REVOCABLE TRUST, C/O URSA MAJOR TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
A public hearing was conducted on August 17, 2022, at 10:00 a.m., with the following present:
Commissioner Scott K. James, Chair
Commissioner Mike Freeman, Pro-Tem
Commissioner Perry L. Buck
Commissioner Steve Moreno
Commissioner Lori Saine
Also present:
Acting Clerk to the Board, Jess Reid
Assistant County Attorney, Karin McDougal
Department of Planning Services representative, Michael Hall
Department of Public Health and Environment representative, Lauren Light
The following business was transacted:
_= I hereby certify that pursuant to a notice dated June 23, 2022, and duly published June 25,
2022, in the Greeley Tribune, a public hearing was conducted to consider the request of
AgCountry Revocable Trust, c/o Ursa Major Technologies, Inc., for a Site Specific Development
Plan and Use by Special Review Permit, USR22-0015, for Uses similar to a research laboratory
(rocket testing facility) in the A (Agricultural) Zone District. Karin McDougal, Assistant County
Attorney, made this a matter of record.
Michael Hall, Department of Planning Services, presented a brief summary of the proposal
and stated Ursa Major Technologies, Inc., has a purchase agreement with the current property
owner, contingent on approval of the USR application, as they have outgrown their current facility
in Berthoud, Colorado, and need additional space. He summarized the uses of the rocket engines
that Ursa Major Technologies, Inc., assembles/tests and described the proposed buildings. He
provided details regarding on -site parking, hours of operation, and number of employees, and
noted there will be no public access to the site. He discussed the fire prevention and protection
measures, proposed security fencing and lighting, existing fencing and landscaping and stated
access to the site is on County Road (CR) 63, which is maintained by oil and gas companies in
the area. Mr. Hall indicated notice was sent to three (3) surrounding property owners (SPOs) with
no correspondence received back. He mentioned an Access Permit and tracking control will be
required, described the traffic associated with the site and relayed the applicant has submitted a
Drainage Narrative, which indicated the site meets an exception for stormwater detention. He
noted there is an unpublished floodplain existing on the site, outlined the surrounding zoning and
uses, entered the favorable recommendation of the Planning Commission (PC) into the record as
written, and displayed images of the site and surrounding views. In response to Commissioner
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2022-2341
PL2832
HEARING CERTIFICATION - AGCOUNTRY REVOCABLE TRUST, C/O URSA MAJOR
TECHNOLOGIES, INC. (USR22-0015)
PAGE 2
Freeman, Mr. Hall stated the nearest residence is two (2) miles away and noted that person came
to the PC hearing.
Lauren Light, Department of Public Health and Environment, stated the existing livestock well
will need to be re -permitted to commercial if the application is approved, explained the regulations
of the Colorado Division of Water Resources, and indicated the applicant will use several septic
systems for sewer, with each septic system serving two (2) buildings. She relayed the applicant
will be required to obtain an Air Pollution Emission Notice (APEN) Permit and mentioned the
on -site fuel tanks will require permitting through the state and must comply with the Colorado
Department of Labor and Employment, Division of Oil and Public Safety, explosive regulations.
Ms. Light noted a Noise Study was submitted, noise is restricted to Industrial limit, explained the
timing of the testing and described the existing on -site sound suppression. She elaborated on
details from the Noise Study and explained the applicant is asking to exceed the Industrial noise
limit (DS #22) during rocket engine testing only. She concluded by stating Development
Standards (DS) #18-34 address Environmental Health items.
El Nick Doucette, Ursa Major Technologies, Inc., represented the applicant, and stated Ursa
Major Technologies, Inc., is a venture capital -backed company that supplies propulsion products,
mainly liquid rocket engines. He provided a brief history of the company, described the Berthoud
campus, and indicated they build approximately one (1) rocket engine per week and ship between
two (2) and four (4) rocket engines per month. He relayed the new site will allow them to build
larger test stands and will meet all of the required safety standards.
= Russ Kane, Galeton Fire Protection District, stated he had reviewed the application and
asserted the hazards associated with the site are consistent with that of oil and gas operations.
In response to Chair James, he relayed prior to construction the applicant will have to address
the need for hauled water.
The Board discussed Conditions of Approval (COA) #1.C (requirements of the Galeton Fire
Protection District) and #1.D (requirements of the Colorado Division of Water Resources), and
added "attempt to" to both. Chair James stated he was impressed with the Communication Plan
in place for the existing facility and the Board agreed to the two (2) aforementioned changes.
'' No public testimony was offered regarding changes made to the Conditions of Approval and
Development Standards.
In response to Chair James, Mr. Doucette indicated he had reviewed, and on behalf of the
applicant, agreed to abide by, the Conditions of Approval and Development Standards, as
amended.
Ei Commissioner Freeman moved to approve the request of AgCountry Revocable Trust,
c/o Ursa Major Technologies, Inc., for a Site Specific Development Plan and Use by Special
Review Permit, USR22-0015, for Uses similar to a research laboratory (rocket testing facility) in
the A (Agricultural) Zone District, based on the recommendations of Planning staff and the
Planning Commission, with the Conditions of Approval and Development Standards, as amended.
2022-2341
PL2832
HEARING CERTIFICATION - AGCOUNTRY REVOCABLE TRUST, C/O URSA MAJOR
TECHNOLOGIES, INC. (USR22-0015)
PAGE 3
The motion was seconded by Commissioner Saine, who stated she was impressed with the
existing facility. Commissioner Buck stated she appreciated the tour of the existing facility. There
being no further discussion, the motion carried unanimously and the hearing was completed at
11:35 a.m.
This Certification was approved on the 31st day of August, 2022.
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
WELD OUNTY, COLORADO
ATTEST: ditAtA) Jdto;4,
Scot K. James, Chair
Weld County Clerk to the Board
BY:
eputy Clerk to the =oard
Mike Freeman, Pro-Tem
►� Perry L. Bu
Steve Moreno
Lori Saine
2022-2341
PL2832
ATTENDANCE LIST
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