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HomeMy WebLinkAbout20200096.tiffPlanner: LAND USE APPLICATION SUMMARY SHEET Michael Hall Case Number: USR19-0056 Owner: Tomora, LLC c/o Steven T. Roach 1130 50'" Avenue, Greeley, CO 80634 Hearing Date: December 17, 2019 Applicant: Hunting Titan, Inc. do Joseph Murphy, Compliance Manager Hazardous Materials 16825 Northchase Drive, Suite 600, Houston, TX 77060 Request: A Site Specific Development Plan and Use by Special Review Permit for an Oil and Gas Support and Service Facility (explosive storage magazines) in the A (Agricultural) Zone District. Legal Subdivision Exemption SUBX19-0016; being a part of the SE4 of Section 14, T5N, Description: R67W of the 6th P.M., Weld County, CO Location: South of and adjacent to 24th Street; approximately 0.5 miles east of Highway 257 Size of Parcel: + 1 acre net Parcel No. 0957-14-0-00-032 The criteria for review of this Special Review Permit is listed in Section 23-2-220 of the Weld County Code. The Department of Planning Services' staff has received referral responses with comments from the following agencies: City of Greeley, referral dated November 21, 2019 Y Weld County Department of Public Works, referral dated September 15, 2019 Y Weld County Department of Planning Services - Floodplain, referral dated September 7, 2019 Y Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment, referral dated September 12, 2019 The Department of Planning Services' staff has received referral responses without comments from the following agencies: V V V V V V City of Evans, referral dated November 5, 2019 Town of Windsor, referral dated October 28, 2019 Colorado Parks and Wildlife, referral dated August 21, 2019 Weld County Sheriff's Office, referral dated September 3, 2019 Weld County Zoning Compliance, referral dated August 21, 2019 West Greeley Conservation District, referral dated September 9, 2019 Colorado Department of Transportation, referral dated August 21, 2019 The Department of Planning Services' staff has not received responses from the following agencies: V V V V V Town of Milliken Weld County Assessor's Office Windsor -Severance Fire Rescue Weld County Office of Emergency Management United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives USR19-0056 — Hunting Titan, Inc. Page 1 of 11 Planner: SPECIAL REVIEW PERMIT ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW Michael Hall Case Number: USR19-0056 Owner: Tomora, LLC c/o Steven T. Roach 1130 50'" Avenue, Greeley, CO 80634 Hearing Date: December 17, 2019 Applicant: Hunting Titan, Inc. do Joseph Murphy, Compliance Manager Hazardous Materials 16825 Northchase Drive, Suite 600, Houston, TX 77060 Request: A Site Specific Development Plan and Use by Special Review Permit for an Oil and Gas Support and Service Facility (explosive storage magazines) in the A (Agricultural) Zone District. Legal Subdivision Exemption SUBX19-0016; being a part of the SE4 of Section 14, T5N, Description: R67W of the 6th P.M., Weld County, CO Location: South of and adjacent to 24th Street; approximately 0.5 miles east of Highway 257 Size of Parcel: + 1 acre net Parcel No. 0957-14-0-00-032 Case Summary: The applicant is requesting a Site Specific Development Plan and Use by Special Review Permit for an Oil and Gas Support and Service Facility, specifically explosive storage magazines. The USR will be located on an approximately one (1) acre temporary leasehold lot, permitted by pending Subdivision Exemption, SUBX19-0016, conditionally approved by the Department of Planning Services on October 17, 2019. The storage of commercial explosives articles will be located in four (4) Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) approved explosive storage magazines, which are approximately eight -feet (8') in height by twenty -feet (20') in length by eight -feet (8') in width. The locked magazines will be organized based on product type and size limitations with a maximum storage of 6,000 pounds each. The magazines will store shaped charges, detonators, and detonator cord, which are purchased and utilized by oil and gas companies conducting hydraulic fracturing, as part of the down -hole process for oil and gas production. Hunting Titan operates fourteen (14) similar licensed ATF explosive storage facilities in the United States and is a member of the Institute for Makers of Explosives (IME). All explosive articles are in packaged boxes when received from the Hunting Titan manufacturing facility in Texas. They are stored in the original marked packaging and never opened, per ATF regulations and Hunting Titan policy. No operations occur at the storage site other than placing the packages into the magazine for storage and then removing packages from the magazine when sold to a customer. No work or modifications to explosives occur. No storage or stockpile of wastes, chemicals, and/or petroleum will occur. No outdoor storage will occur. Hunting Titan has an existing office and warehouse facility, located at Lot 2, Block 2 of the High Pointe Business Park, which is approximately one (1) mile northwest of the proposed magazine facility, and is located within Greeley municipal limits. This warehouse is not a part of the subject USR. Four (4) employees work at the warehouse. Per ATF regulations, the explosives cannot be stored at the warehouse as there is a minimum distance required from inhabited buildings, roads and railways, thus the need for the explosive magazine storage facility. As needed, warehouse employees will drive to the magazine facility to store and retrieve explosive articles for customers. No public access will occur at the magazine facility. The magazine facility is unmanned and no water source or sewage disposal source is proposed. No employees will be located on -site, and no other activity occurs on -site. The normal hours of USR19-0056 — Hunting Titan, Inc. Page 2 of 11 operation for the Hunting Titan warehouse is 7:00 am to 7:00 pm, Monday through Friday. Similar hours of operations can be expected at the magazine facility and employees will make between one (1) and five (5) trips to the magazine facility during normal business hours. The applicant notes that a designated employee is on -call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and the magazine facility would be accessible by the employee, if needed based on customer demand. The site is accessed from State Highway 257, then approximately one-half (1/2) mile east on 24th Street, which runs along the south edge of the High Pointe Business Park. 24th Street is paved and is a dead- end. This roadway is owned and maintained by the City of Greeley. At the gated east end of 24th Street, a dirt access road extends south across the parent parcel, being the southeast quarter section, and provides access to the subject USR and Subdivision Exemption lot via an easement as dedicated on the SUBX19-0016 plat map. Hunting Titan possess a Transportation Security Plan, which is required by the United States Department of Transportation (US DOT) Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA). The explosive magazines will be located on a flat graded and improved gravel surface. Emergency signage will conform to the Weld County Sign Code and will provide fire -fighting recommendations and an emergency contact phone number that will be answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The sign will be freestanding and will not be visible from any road or to the general public. The ATF does not have any fencing, screening, or site security requirements. No fencing is proposed by the applicant. 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 22-5-100.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 an explosive storage facility, which must be located away from existing buildings and roadways. Given this requirement, the applicant is attempting to locate the facility as close as possible to the existing Hunting Titan warehouse facility, which is located to the northwest. The warehouse is located in a commercial and industrial business park and is the closest developed land use in the area. B. Section 23-2-220.A.2. -- The proposed use is consistent with the intent of the A (Agricultural) Zone District. Section 23-3-10. — Intent, of the Weld County Code states, "Agriculture in the County is considered a valuable resource which must be protected from adverse impacts resulting from uncontrolled and undirected business, industrial and residential land uses. The A (Agricultural) Zone District is established to maintain and promote agriculture as an essential feature of the County. the A (Agricultural) Zone District is intended to provide areas for the conduct of agricultural activities and activities related to agriculture and agricultural production, and for areas for natural resource extraction and energy development, without the interference of other, incompatible land uses." This code section allows the applicant to apply for a Use by Special Review permit for the subject explosive magazine facility, which is related to energy development and is more intense than Uses Allowed by Right. USR19-0056 — Hunting Titan, Inc. Page 3 of 11 Section 23-3-40.W. — Uses by special review, of the Weld County Code states, "Oil and gas support and service." This code section allows the applicant to apply for the explosive storage magazine facility. The explosives and associated articles are used in the down -hole hydraulic fracturing process, which is part of oil and gas extraction. C. Section 23-2-220.A.3 -- The uses which will be permitted will be compatible with the existing surrounding land uses. The adjacent lands consist of the High Pointe Business Park, which contains industrial and commercial uses, farmland, vacant land, and ongoing oil and gas activity. The USR will be located on a pending Subdivision Exemption lot and is surrounded by the remaining southeast quarter section. The property owner, Tomora, LLC, also owns the adjacent northeast quarter section. The parent parcel is located within an unincorporated Weld County enclave, surrounded by lands annexed into the City of Greeley, and is made up of three (3) contiguous quarter sections. The proposed explosive magazines will be located in a field and is over one-half (1/2) mile from a public roadway. The small facility will have minimal impact and the will be compatible with the area. No surrounding properties will be impacted by this use and it will not cause any nuisances. The Weld County Department of Planning Services sent notice to seven (7) surrounding property owners within 500 feet of the proposed USR boundary. No written responses were received. One (1) phone call was received with general questions. D. Section 23-2-220.A.4 -- That the uses which would 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 this Code or master plans of affected municipalities. This site is located within the three (3) mile referral radius of the City of Evans, City of Greeley, Town of Milliken, and Town of Windsor. Greeley returned a referral dated November 21, 2019, which included advisory comments and site design guidelines. Windsor and Evans returned referrals dated October 28, and November 5, 2019 respectively and stated no concerns. No referral response was received from Milliken. The site is located within the Coordinated Planning Agreement (CPA) boundaries of Evans, Milliken and Windsor. Evans and Milliken returned signed Notice of Inquiry (NOI) forms dated February 21 and February 20, 2019 respectively. Windsor returned a response to the NOI via email dated February 4, 2019. All three (3) municipalities stated no concerns and/or no annexation interest. A portion of the parent parcel is located within the Greeley Urban Growth Boundary (UGB). The applicant notified Greeley of the proposal during the pre -application. Greeley provided comments dated February 21, 2019, regarding site security, screening, ecology and the floodplain. The site is not located within Regional Urbanization Area (RUA). E. Section 23-2-220.A.5 -- That the application complies with Articles V and XI of this Chapter if the proposal is located within an overlay zoning district or a special flood hazard area identified by maps officially adopted by the county. A portion of the parent parcel is located within a FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area. The pending Subdivision Exemption lot and USR site are not located in the Floodplain. The Department of Planning Services - Floodplain referral dated September 7, 2019, detailed map items and Development Standards, which have been incorporated into the Resolution. The property is not located within the A -P (Airport) Overlay District, Geologic Hazard Overlay District, or MS4 area. Building Permits issued on the lot will be required to adhere to the fee structure of the County -Wide Road Impact Fee Program, County Facility Fee and Drainage Impact Fee Programs. USR19-0056 — Hunting Titan, Inc. Page 4 of 11 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 site is designated as "Other Land" per the 1979 Soil Conservation Service Important Farmlands of Weld County Map. The proposed USR will not remove any agricultural land from production. The subject USR will be located on a pending one (1) acre Subdivision Exemption lot that is not suitable for agricultural production given the small lot size. Upon the time the explosive magazines are removed from the site, the area may be farmed again, as part of the larger parent parcel, which contains a mix of "Irrigated Land (Not Prime)', "High Potential Dry Cropland - Prime if they Become Irrigated", "Prime if they Become Irrigated" and "Other Land" designations per the same 1979 Map. G. Section 23-2-220.A.7 -- There is adequate provisions for the protection of the health, safety, and welfare of the inhabitants of the neighborhood and County. The Design Standards (Section 23-2-240, Weld County Code), Operation Standards (Section 23-2-250, Weld County Code), Conditions of Approval and Development Standards can ensure that there are adequate provisions for the protection of health, safety, and welfare of the inhabitants of the neighborhood and County. The Weld County Environmental Health and Weld County Public Works referrals, dated September 12 and September 15, 2019, provide additional background and advisory information regarding designing and operating the site in conformance with the interests of the County, public and other governmental agencies. 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 map: A. SUBX19-0016 shall be recorded prior to USR19-0056. (Department of Planning Services) B. The applicant shall attempt to address the requirements of the City of Greeley, as stated in the referral response dated November 21, 2019, regarding screening, security, easements and fire considerations. Evidence of such shall be submitted in writing to the Weld County Department of Planning Services. C. The map shall be amended to delineate the following: 1) All sheets of the map shall be labeled USR19-0056. (Department of Planning Services) 2) The attached Development Standards. (Department of Planning Services) 3) The map shall be prepared per Section 23-2-260.D of the Weld County Code. (Department of Planning Services) 4) Show and label the location of proposed explosive magazines and any other proposed improvements including the extent of the gravel area. (Department of Planning Services) 5) Show and label the location of Subdivision Exemption SUBX19-0016 boundary for reference. (Department of Planning Services) USR19-0056 — Hunting Titan, Inc. Page 5 of 11 6) Show and label the location of the 30 foot wide joint access and utility easement extending across the parent parcel from 24th Street, for the benefit of the Subdivision Exemption lot, as dedicated on the SUBX19-0016 plat map. (Department of Planning Services) 7) Show and label the location of the emergency signage. Include a drawing and dimensions of the sign on the USR map. Signs shall adhere to Chapter 23, Article IV, Division 2, Section 23-2-240.A.12 and Appendices 23-C, 23-D and 23-E of the Weld County Code. (Department of Planning Services) 8) Show and label the location of the security fence and gate, if applicable. (Department of Planning Services) 9) Show and label the location of the employee gravel parking area, if applicable. (Department of Planning Services) 10) Show and label the location of the trash collection area, if applicable. Section 23-3- 250.A.6. of the Weld County Code addresses the issue of trash collection areas. (Department of Planning Services) 11) Show and label any lighting, if applicable. All lighting shall be downcast and shielded so that light rays will not shine directly onto adjacent properties. (Department of Planning Services) 12) Show and label the setback radiuses for existing oil and gas tank batteries and wellheads, if applicable. Setback requirements are located in Section 23-3-50.E of the Weld County Code. (Department of Planning Services) 13) Show and label all recorded easements and rights -of -way on the map by book and page number or reception number. (Department of Planning Services) 14) Show the floodplain and floodway (if applicable) boundaries on the map. Label the floodplain boundaries with the FEMA Flood Zone and FEMA Map Panel Number or appropriate study. (Department of Planning Services - Floodplain) 15) The portions of County Roads 23 and 56 adjacent to the site are under the jurisdiction of the City of Greeley. Please contact the municipality to verify the rights -of -way. Show and label the rights -of -way and the approved access on the site plan. Provide the approved access permit number if applicable. (Department of Public Works) 16) 24th Street is under the jurisdiction of the City of Greeley. Please contact the municipality to verify the right-of-way. Show and label the right-of-way. Show the approved access(es) on the site plan and label with the approved access permit number if applicable. (Department of Public Works) 17) Show and label the drainage flow arrows. (Department of Public Works) 18) Show and label the parking and traffic circulation flow arrows showing how the traffic moves around the property. (Department of Public Works) 2. Upon completion of Condition of Approval #1 above, the applicant shall submit one (1) electronic copy (.pdf) of the map for preliminary approval to the Weld County Department of Planning Services. Upon approval of the map the applicant shall submit a Mylar map along with all other documentation required as Conditions of Approval. The Mylar map shall be recorded in the office of the Weld County Clerk and Recorder by the Department of Planning Services. The map shall be prepared in accordance with the requirements of Section 23-2-260.D of the Weld County Code. The Mylar map and additional requirements shall be submitted within one hundred twenty (120) days from the date of the Board of County Commissioners Resolution. The applicant shall be responsible for paying the recording fee. (Department of Planning Services) USR19-0056 — Hunting Titan, Inc. Page 6 of 11 3. In accordance with Weld County Code Ordinance #2012-3, approved April 30, 2012, should the map not be recorded within the required one hundred twenty (120) days from the date of the Board of County Commissioners Resolution, a $50.00 recording continuance charge shall added for each additional three (3) month period. (Department of Planning Services) 4. Prior to Construction: A. Any construction in the floodplain requires a floodplain permit. (Department of Planning Services - Floodplain) 5. Prior to Operation: A. The applicant shall develop an Emergency Action and Safety Plan with the Weld County Office of Emergency Management and the Windsor -Severance Fire District. The plan shall be reviewed on an annual basis by the, Facility operator, the Fire District and the Weld County Office of Emergency Management. Submit evidence of acceptance to the Weld County Department of Planning Services. (Department of Planning Services) 6. The Use by Special Review is not perfected until the Conditions of Approval are completed and the map is recorded. Activity shall not occur, nor shall any building or electrical permits be issued on the property, until the Use by Special Review map is ready to be recorded in the office of the Weld County Clerk and Recorder or the applicant has been approved for an early release agreement. (Department of Planning Services) USR19-0056 — Hunting Titan, Inc. Page 7 of 11 SITE SPECIFIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN USE BY SPECIAL REVIEW PERMIT DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS Hunting Titan, Inc. USR19-0056 1. A Site Specific Development Plan and Use by Special Review Permit, USR19-0056, for an Oil and Gas Support and Service Facility (explosive storage magazines) in the A (Agricultural) Zone District, subject to the Development Standards stated hereon. (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. This is an unmanned facility. Employees will only temporarily access the site to store and retrieve explosive articles. No other operations or activities are permitted. No outdoor storage is permitted. (Department of Planning Services) 4. The operator shall notify the Department of Planning Services when the explosive storage magazine facility is decommissioned or removed from the property. (Department of Planning Services) 5. The facility shall adhere to the best management practices of the Institute for Makers of Explosives (IME). (Department of Planning Services) 6. All signs shall adhere to Chapter 23, Article IV, Division 2 and Appendices 23-C, 23-D and 23-E of the Weld County Code. (Department of Planning Services) 7. The property owner or operator shall provide written evidence of an approved Emergency Action and Safety Plan on or before March 151th of any given year signed by representatives of the Fire District and the Weld County Office of Emergency Management to the Department of Planning Services. (Department of Planning Services) 8. A Flood Hazard Development Permit is required for all construction or development occurring in the floodplain or floodway as delineated on Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) FIRM Community Panel Map #08123C -1513E effective date January 20, 2016 (Sheep Draw Floodplain). Any development shall comply with all applicable Weld County requirements, Colorado Water Conservation Board requirements as described in Rules and Regulations for Regulatory Floodplains in Colorado, and FEMA regulations and requirements as described in 44 CFR parts 59, 60, and 65. The FEMA definition of development is any man-made change to improved or unimproved real estate, including but not limited to buildings or other structures, mining, dredging, filling, grading, paving, excavation, drilling operations, or storage of equipment and materials. (Department of Planning Services - Floodplain) 9. FEMA's floodplain boundaries may be updated at any time by FEMA. Prior to the start of any development activities, the owner should contact Weld County to determine if the floodplain boundaries have been modified. (Department of Planning Services - Floodplain) 10. The property owner or operator shall be responsible for controlling noxious weeds on the site, pursuant to Chapter 15, Article I and II, of the Weld County Code. (Department of Public Works) 11. Maintenance of unmaintained County right-of-way will not be the responsibility of Weld County. (Department of Public Works) 12. The historical flow patterns and runoff amounts on the site will be maintained. (Department of Public Works) 13. All liquid and solid wastes (as defined in the Solid Wastes Disposal Sites and Facilities Act, 30-20-100.5, C.R.S.) shall be stored and removed for final disposal in a manner that protects against surface and groundwater contamination. (Department of Public Health and Environment) USR19-0056 — Hunting Titan, Inc. Page 8 of 11 14. 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. (Department of Public Health and Environment) 15. Waste materials shall be handled, stored, and disposed in a manner that controls fugitive dust, fugitive particulate emissions, blowing debris, and other potential nuisance conditions. The applicant shall operate in accordance with Chapter 14, Article 1 of the Weld County Code. The accepted waste handling plan shall be adhered to. (Department of Public Health and Environment) 16. Fugitive dust should attempt to be confined on the property. Uses on the property should comply with the Colorado Air Quality Commission's air quality regulations. (Department of Public Health and Environment) 17. For employees or contractors on site for less than 2 consecutive hours a day, and 2 or less full- time employees on site, portable toilets and bottled water are acceptable. Records of maintenance and proper disposal for portable toilets shall be retained on a quarterly basis and available for review by the Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment. Portable toilets shall be serviced by a cleaner licensed in Weld County, contain hand sanitizers and be screened from existing adjacent residential properties and public rights -of -way. (Department of Public Health and Environment) 18. Adequate drinking, hand washing, and toilet facilities shall be provided for employees and patrons, at all times. The Hunting Titan office/warehouse located in the High Pointe Business Park can be utilized for sanitary accommodations providing the property is owned or rented by the applicant. Otherwise a portable toilet is required for this facility. (Department of Public Health and Environment) 19. The operation shall comply with the Colorado Department of Labor & Employment, Division of Oil and Public Safety Explosive Regulations (7 C.C.R. 1101-9) as well as Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms regulations. (Department of Public Health and Environment) 20. The operation shall comply with all applicable rules and regulations of State and Federal agencies and the Weld County Code. (Department of Public Health and Environment) 21. 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 construed as, traffic control devices. (Department of Planning Services) 22. Building permits may be required, for any new construction or set up manufactured structure, per Section 29-3-10 of the Weld County Code. A building permit application must be completed and submitted. Buildings 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: 2018 International Building Codes; 2018 International Residential Code; 2006 International Energy Code; 2017 National Electrical Code; and Chapter 29 of the Weld County Code. A plan review shall be approved, and a permit must be issued prior to the start of construction. (Department of Building Inspection) 23. 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. 24. The Use by 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 USR19-0056 — Hunting Titan, Inc. Page 9 of 11 changes from the plans or Development Standards are permitted. Any other changes shall be filed in the office of the Department of Planning Services. 25. 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. 26. RIGHT TO EXTRACT MINERAL RESOURCES STATEMENT: Weld County has some of the most abundant mineral resources, including, but not limited to, sand and gravel, oil, natural gas, and coal. Under title 34 of the Colorado Revised Statutes, minerals are vital resources because (a) the state's commercial mineral deposits are essential to the state's economy; (b) the populous counties of the state face a critical shortage of such deposits; and (c) such deposits should be extracted according to a rational plan, calculated to avoid waste of such deposits and cause the least practicable disruption of the ecology and quality of life of the citizens of the populous counties of the state. Mineral resource locations are widespread throughout the County and person moving into these areas must recognize the various impacts associated with this development. Often times, mineral resource sites are fixed to their geographical and geophysical locations. Moreover, these resources are protected property rights and mineral owners should be afforded the opportunity to extract the mineral resource. 27. WELD COUNTY'S RIGHT TO FARM STATEMENT: 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 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. USR19-0056 — Hunting Titan, Inc. Page 10 of 11 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, sand burs, 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. USR19-0056 — Hunting Titan, Inc. Page 11 of 11 November 07, 2019 DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING SERVICES 1555 N 17th AVE GREELEY, CO 80631 WEBSITE: www.weldgov.com E-MAIL: mhall@weldgov.com PHONE: (970) 400-3528 FAX: (970) 304-6498 MURPHY JOE 16825 NORTHCHASE RD STE 600 HOUSTON, TX 77060 Subject: USR19-0056 - A Site Specific Development Plan and Use by Special Review Permit for an Oil and Gas Support and Service Facility (explosive storage magazines) in the A (Agricultural) Zone District. On parcel(s) of land described as: SUBX19-0016, BEING PART OF SE4 SECTION 14, T5N, R67W OF THE 6TH P.M., WELD COUNTY, COLORADO. Dear Applicants: I have scheduled a meeting with the Weld County Planning Commission on December 17, 2019, at 1:30 p.m. A subsequent hearing with the Board of County Commissioners will be held on January 8, 2020 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.weldcountyplanninqcases.orq If you have any questions concerning this matter, please call. Resp�Ntfully, /// Michael Hall Planner August 20, 2019 DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING SERVICES 1555 N 17th AVE GREELEY, CO 80631 WEBSITE: www.weldgov.com E-MAIL: mhall@weldgov.com PHONE: (970) 400-3528 FAX: (970) 304-6498 JOE MURPHY HUNTING TITAN INC 16825 NORTHCHASE ROAD SUITE 600 HOUSTON, TX 77060 Subject: USR19-0056 - A Site Specific Development Plan and Use by Special Review Permit for an Oil and Gas Support and Service Facility (explosive storage magazines) in the A (Agricultural) Zone District. On parcel(s) of land described as: 22570-A SE4 SECTION 14 T5N R67W 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, Michael Hall Planner FIELD CHECK Inspection Date: 12/4/2019 Planner: Michael Hall Hearing Date: December 17, 2019 Case Number: USR19-0056 Owner: Tomora, LLC do Steven T. Roach 1130 50th Avenue, Greeley, CO 80634 Applicant: Hunting Titan, Inc. do Joseph Murphy, Compliance Manager Hazardous Materials 16825 Northchase Drive, Suite 600, Houston, TX 77060 Request: A Site Specific Development Plan and Use by Special Review Permit for an Oil and Gas Support and Service Facility (explosive storage magazines) in the A (Agricultural) Zone District. Legal Description: Subdivision Exemption SUBX19-0016; being a part of the SE4 of Section 14, T5N, R67W of the 6th P.M., Weld County, CO Location: South of and adjacent to 24th Street; approximately 0.5 miles east of Highway 257 Size of Parcel: + 1 acre net Parcel No. 0957-14-0-00-032 Zoning Land Use N A (Agricultural) N Agricultural / High Pointe Business Park E City of Greeley E Agricultural S City of Greeley S Agricultural W A (Agricultural) W Agricultural / High Pointe Business Park COMMENTS: The parent parcel is located at the eastern dead end of 241h Street (paved). Access to the SUBX lot and USR site will be on a gravel easement road, south and then east across the parent parcel. There are several oil and gas facilities on the parent parcel. There are no other improvements. The parcel slopes to the south and east. The explosive magazine facility will be located in a low spot on the property that will be difficult to see from surrounding properties and from Highway 257. Michael Hall, Planner Hello