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HomeMy WebLinkAbout20180003.tiffLAND USE APPLICATION SUMMARY SHEET Case Number: USR17-0054 Hearing Date: December 5, 2017 Applicant: Jessica Lee, c/a Bestway Concrete, Inc., 301 Centennial Drive, Milliken, CO Request: A Site Specific Development Plan and Special Review Permit for Mineral Resource Development including Open Pit Mining (sand, gravel and stone) the A (Agricultural) Zone District. Legal Description: Lots A and B of RE -1802 and part of the Northwest quarter of Section 19, Township 6 North, Range 67 West of the 6th P.M., Weld County, Colorado Location: South of and adjacent to State Highway 392, East of and adjacent to County Road 13 Size of Parcel: 19.7 acres, more or less Parcel Numbers: 0807-19-2-00-056,0807-19-2-00-054 and 0807-19-2-00-058 POSSIBLE ISSUES SUMMARIZED FROM APPLICATION MATERIALS 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 responses from the following agencies with comment: • Weld County Department of Planning Services - Floodplain, referral dated September 27, 2017 • Town of Windsor, referral dated October 17, 2017 • Weld County Department of Public Works, referral dated October 17, 2017 • Weld County Department of Environmental Health, referral dated October 19, 2017 • Weld County Department of Planning Services - Engineer, referral dated October 20, 2017 The Department of Planning Services' staff has received responses from the following agencies without comment: • Weld County Zoning Compliance, referral dated September 26, 2017 • Extraction Oil & Gas Company, referral dated October 12, 2017 The Department of Planning Services' staff has not received responses from the following agencies: • Larimer County • Poudre Valley REA • Public Service of Colorado • Weld County Sheriff's Office • Weld County Building Inspection • Fort Collins Conservation District • State of Colorado Parks and Wildlife • Windsor -Severance Fire Protection District • American Telephone and Telegraph Company Bestway Concrete, Inc. U S R17-0054 Page 1 - 10-26-2017 passaround • State of Colorado, Division of Water Resources • Weld County Office of Emergency Management • State of Colorado, Department of Transportation • Weld County Department of Public Works - Access • State of Colorado Division of Mining Reclamation Safety • State of Colorado, Department of Public Health and Environment Bestway Concrete, Inc. U S R17-0054 Page 2 LAND USE APPLICATION SUMMARY SHEET Case Number: USR17-0054 Hearing Date: December 5, 2017 Applicant: Jessica Lee, c/o Bestway Concrete, Inc., 301 Centennial Drive, Milliken, CO Request: A Site Specific Development Plan and Special Review Permit for Mineral Resource Development including Open Pit Mining (sand, gravel and stone) the A (Agricultural) Zone District. Legal Description: Lots A and B of RE -1802 and part of the Northwest quarter of Section 19, Township 6 North, Range 67 West of the 6th P.M., Weld County, Colorado Location: South of and adjacent to State Highway 392, East of and adjacent to County Road 13 Size of Parcel: 19.7 acres, more or less Parcel Numbers: 0807-19-2-00-056,0807-19-2-00-054 and 0807-19-2-00-058 Narrative: The 19/± acre permit boundary contains one area of planned extraction totaling 19.7± acres. The mine will be will be dewatered and dry mined without the installation of a slurry wall. The aggregate deposit varies in composition, depth and extent. Generally, there is 2-4 feet of overburden with the mineral deposit 15-20 feet in depth. The mining activities will be for two years with one year for site reclamation per written contact with the property owner. All mineral product will be transported from the mining area via a conveyor or an internal mine road to the existing Bestway batch plant site located east of County Road 13 within the corporate Town Limits of Windsor. Access will be via the existing driveway established in 1983 onto a road annexed into the Town of Windsor under the Serfer Annexation for road right-of-way only in 2011. Reclamation of the property will include three graded and seeded parcels of land at the current pre -mining topographic grade without a designated end use. 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 ordinances in effect. Section 22-2-20.A (A.Goal 1) states: "Respect and encourage the continuation of agricultural land uses and agricultural operations for purposes which enhance the economic health and Bestway Concrete, Inc. U S R17-0054 Page 3 sustainability of agriculture." Following temporary mining disturbances from the proposed Lee mine, the reclaimed land use will be three (3) graded and seeded parcels. Section 22-2-20.C A.Goal.3 states "County land use regulations recognize and respect the rights afforded by the State Constitution and associated statutes of individually decreed water rights. Water rights are considered real property and should be protected as any other private property right." The proposed mining operation will not use or retain surface water. Mine dewatering will occur and this water will be co -mingled with stormwater and discharged into the Cache La Poudre River as permitted under the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment Discharge Permit no. COG501546. Therefore, the temporary operation will not negatively affect the surrounding hydrologic balance or established water rights. Section 22-4-30.B WA.Goal 2. Strive to maintain and protect water supply storage facilities, conveyances and infrastructure adequate to sustain continued water use, and Section 22-4- 30.B.1 WA.Policy 2.1. Land use regulations should protect the historic and future operational viability of water storage, conveyance and delivery infrastructure when applications for proposed land use changes are considered. Following temporary mining disturbances from the proposed Bestway mine, the reclaimed land use will be later developed to the highest possible end use, and will likely comprise a mixed use, which may include other agricultural uses as well as light residential, commercial or industrial uses. Section 22-5-80.B (CM.Goal 2) states, "Promote the reasonable and orderly development of mineral resources." According to the Weld County Sand, Gravel Resources map dated July 1, 1975, the property is classified as F-1 (Floodplain - coarse aggregates: relatively clean and sound). The application materials indicated that this property has 2-4 feet of overburden and that extraction activities will remove aggregate to an average mean depth of 17 -feet from the natural grade of the surface. Section 22-5-80.C (CM.Goal 3) states, "Minimize the impacts of surface and subsurface mining activities on the surrounding land, land uses, roads and highways. The applicant will utilize an internal access road and a conveyor to transport the mineral resource to the existing batch plant located within the Town Limits of Windsor located south of State Highway 392 and east of County Road 13. Section 22-5-80.D.1.h (CM.Policy 4.1.8) states, "Require all mining operations conform to federal, state and local environmental standards." The extraction of the resource will commence on lands adjacent to State Highway 392 and move in a southerly direction across the site. As stated in the application there will be no materials processing of materials on this property. The applicant proposes to utilized trucked in water for dust suppression and abatement and will cease operations during high wind events. The applicant also has a State of Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety, Division/DRMS, Permit No. M2000-144, conditionally approved amendment on March 20, 2017. B. Section 23-2-220.A.2 -- The proposed use is consistent with the intent of the (A) Agricultural Zone District. Section 23-3-40.A.3 of the Weld County Code provides for a Site Specific Development Plan and a Special Review Permit for a Mineral Resource Development including Open Pit Mining and Materials Processing (sand, gravel and stone), 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 area is comprised of reclaimed gravel mines located to the west is the former Connell Resources mine, reclaimed as a water storage basin, to the northwest is the former Martin Marietta mine reclaimed as a water storage basin and to the north is State Highway 392, Main Street for Windsor, and across this highway is the former Flatiron Construction mine, reclaimed as a water storage basin and lands currently improved for a single family residence. Bestway Concrete, Inc. U S R17-0054 Page 4 To the south is the Cache La Poudre river, river corridor and associated floodway and floodplain. Residential development is located to the southwest in Larimer County and is positioned out of the floodplain and overlooks the mine site and lower lands to the east. To the northeast is the Windsor Gardener and High Hops Brewery and directly adjacent to the east are water storage basins associated with the Bestway North La Poudre mine. Directly adjacent to the south are the concrete and asphalt batch plants and associated improvements for the Bestway mining and processing activities. Mining activity has occurred in this location since 1983. The proposed Lee mine utilizes unmined lands north of the current mining and batching operations with the mineral resource transported via an internal road and conveyor to the processing area. Plant access remains the same as in 1983 with all vehicles exiting the site through a Town of Windsor point of ingress and egress for the facility. 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 Town of Windsor and Larimer County are within the three-mile referral area of the project site. The Town of Windsor returned a referral dated October 17, 2017 and stated the property is located within the Coordinated Planning Area between Weld County and the Town of Windsor and within the Town's Growth Management Area per the Town's Comprehensive Plan and depicts this area as "Park/Open Space". The Town requests that the historic drainage be maintained through the area including during mining and reclamation. The Town also states the entire site is located within the Floodway and minimum State standards for Floodways need to be met. The Town is requesting a interim landscape treatment be implemented adjacent to State Highway 392 during mining activities and long term post reclamation per the adopted CPA design standards. Larimer County did not return a referral. The proposed permit area currently consists of pasture grasses and in general the surrounding property is primarily irrigated and non -irrigated agricultural lands. There are three reclaimed mineral resource developments within one mile of this proposed facility. Planning Staff believes that, with the endorsement of the Conditions of Approval, contained in this recommendation, the approval of this use will not jeopardize the health, safety and welfare of the surrounding property owners. E. Section 23-2-220.A5 -- The application complies with Section 23-5-230 of the Weld County Code. The proposed mine is located within a FEMA regulatory floodway and floodplain. A Flood Hazard Development Permit is required for any development in the floodplain. Building Permits issued will be required to adhere to the fee structure of the County -wide Road Impact; the County Facility Fee and Drainage Impact Fee Programs. (Department of Planning Services) 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 property to be mined contains "Irrigated Land - Not Prime" agricultural lands that do not have irrigation water, therefore, no irrigated agricultural land will be taken out of production with this proposal. The land is presently vacant without improvements and is planted in pasture grasses. G. Section 23-2-220.A.7 -- The Design Standards (Section 23-2-240 of the Weld County Code), Operation Standards (Section 23-2-250 of the Weld County Code), Conditions of Approval, and Development Standards ensure that there are adequate provisions for the protection of health, safety, and welfare of the inhabitants of the neighborhood and County. H. Section 23-4-250 -- Additional requirements for Open -mining has been addressed through this application and the Development Standards will insure compliance with Section 23-4-250 Weld County Code. Bestway Concrete, Inc. U S R17-0054 Page 5 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 Service's staff recommendation for approval is conditional upon the following: 1. Prior to recording the map: A. The map shall be amended to delineate the following: 1. All sheets of the map shall be labeled USR17-0054. (Department of Planning Services) 2. The attached Development Standards. (Department of Planning Services) 3. The USR map shall be prepared in accordance with Section 23-2-260.D of the Weld County Code. (Department of Planning Services) 4. The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) has jurisdiction over all accesses to State Highways. The applicant shall contact the Colorado Department of Transportation to determine the current and future right-of-way and delineate this right-of-way on the site plan. All setbacks shall be measured from the edge of right-of-way. (Department of Planning Services) 5. County Road 13 is classified as an Arterial Street with an ultimate right-of-way width of sixty- five (65) feet east of the section line. The existing right-of-way varies from thirty-five (35) feet to forty-five (45) feet. The applicant shall delineate on the site plan the existing right-of-way and future right-of-way for County Road 13. All setbacks shall be measured from the edge of right-of-way. This road is maintained by the Town of Windsor. (Town of Windsor) 6. Show and label the approved Town of Windsor access(es) on the site pan and label with the approved access permit number if applicable. (Department of Public Works) 7. Should exterior lighting be a part of this facility, all light standards shall be delineated on the USR Map. (Department of Planning Services) 8. All signs shall be shown on the map and 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) 9. 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) 10. The applicant shall show the drainage flow arrows, (Department of Planning Services - Engineer) 11. Setback radiuses for existing oil and gas tank batteries and wellheads shall be indicated on the map per the setback requirements of 23-3-50.E of the Weld County Code. B. If exterior lighting is proposed the applicant shall submit a Lighting Plan with cut -sheets for the proposed light standards to be utilized at the mine for review and approval, and show the lighting on the USR map. (Department of Planning Services) C. All signs shall be shown on the map and 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) D. The applicant/ operator shall address the requirements of the Town of Windsor and submit a Bestway Concrete, Inc. U S R17-0054 Page 6 Landscape Plan addressing the interim landscape treatment during mining activities, specific to Chapter 19, Article VI, Section 19-6-90, Common Development Standards per the Coordinated Planning Agreement of 2015, bearing in mind that the entire property is within the Floodway boundary of the Cache La Poudre River. (Town of Windsor) E. The applicant/ operator shall address the requirements of the Town of Windsor and submit the approved haul route from the Town for all traffic from the batch plant and mine onto Town of Windsor roads. (Town of Windsor) 2. Prior to Mining: A. If more than one (1) acre is to be disturbed for construction of non -gravel pit items such as structures, parking lots, laydown yards et cetera..., a Weld County grading permit will be required. (Department of Planning Services -Engineer) B. The applicant shall develop an Emergency Action and Safety Plan with the Office of Emergency Management and the 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 Department of Planning Services. (Department of Planning Services) C. The applicant shall submit written evidence that the Financial and Performance warranty has been submitted and accepted by the Division of Mining Reclamation and Safety. (Department of Planning Services) 3. The Special Review activity shall not occur nor shall any building permits be issued on the property until the Special Review map is ready to be recorded in the office of the Weld County Clerk and Recorder. (Department of Planning Services) 4. The attached Development Standards for the Special Review Permit shall be adopted and placed on the Special Review Map prior to recording. The completed map shall be delivered to the Weld County Department of Planning Services and be ready for recording in the Weld County Clerk and Recorder's Office within one hundred twenty (120) days of approval by the Board of County Commissioners. (Department of Planning Services) 5. In accordance with Weld County Code Ordinance 2005-7 approved June 1, 2005, should the map 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) Bestway Concrete, Inc. U S R17-0054 Page 7 SITE SPECIFIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN SPECIAL REVIEW PERMIT DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS Bestway Concrete Company USR17-0054 1. A Site Specific Development Plan and Special Review Permit, USR17-0054 for Mineral Resource Development including Open Pit Mining (sand, gravel and stone) in the A (Agricultural) Zone District, as indicated in the application materials on file and 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. 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 and Environment) 4. 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 and Environment) 5. 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 facility shall operate in accordance with Chapter 14, Article 1 of the Weld County Code. (Department of Public Health and Environment) 6. 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) 7. The facility shall adhere to the maximum permissible noise levels allowed in the Industrial Zone as delineated in 25-12-103 C.R.S. (Department of Public Health and Environment) 8. The operation shall remove, handle, and stockpile overburden, soil, sand and gravel from the facility area in a manner that prevents nuisance conditions. (Department of Public Health and Environment) 9. Portable toilets and bottled water are acceptable to provide drinking and sanitary services to the site. 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 and shall contain hand sanitizers. (Department of Public Health and Environment) 10. The operation shall comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the Colorado Division of Reclamation Mining and Safety. (Department of Public Health and Environment) 11. The operation shall comply with the Mine Safety and Health Act (MSHA). (Department of Public Health and Environment) 12. The facility shall notify the County of any revocation and/or suspension of any State issued permit. (Department of Public Health and Environment) Bestway Concrete, Inc. U S R17-0054 Page 8 13. The applicant shall notify the County upon receipt of any compliance advisory or other notice of noncompliance of a State issued permit, and of the outcome or disposition of any such compliance advisory or other notice of non-compliance. (Department of Public Health and Environment) 14. 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) 15. The historical flow patterns and runoff amounts on the site will be maintained. (Department of Planning Services - Engineer) 16. Weld County is not responsible for the maintenance of onsite drainage related features. (Department of Planning Services - Engineer) 17. 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 -1480E effective date January 20, 2016 (Cache la Poudre 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) 18. 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) 19. Lighting on the site shall be designed so that the lighting will not adversely affect surrounding property owners. (Department of Planning Services) 20. Sources of light shall be shielded so that beams or rays of light will not shine directly onto adjacent properties. Sources of light should not cause a nuisance or interfere with the use on the adjacent properties in accordance with the map. 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) 21. Section 23-4-290.B of the Weld County Code limits the hours of operation for sand and gravel operations to the hours of day light except in the case of public or private emergency or to make necessary repairs to equipment. Hours of operation may be extended with specific permission from the Weld County Board of County Commissioners. This restriction shall not apply to operation of administrative and executive offices or repair and maintenance facilities located on the property. (Department of Planning Services) 22. Existing vegetation and ground cover along public road frontage and drainage ways shall be preserved, maintained, and supplemented, if necessary, for the depth of the setback in order to protect against and/or reduce noise, dust, and erosion. (Department of Planning Services) 23. Revisions as approved by the Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety, may, as determined by Weld County staff require an amendment to this USR Permit. (Department of Planning Services) 24. The property owner shall control noxious weeds on the site. (Department of Public Works) Bestway Concrete, Inc. U S R17-0054 Page 9 25. 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: 2012 International Building Code; 2012 International Mechanical Code; 2012 International Plumbing Code: 2006 International Energy Code; 2012 International Fuel Gas Code; 2014 National Electrical Code; 2009 ANSI 117.1 Accessibility Code and Chapter 29 of the Weld County Code. (Department of Building Inspection) 26. Building Permits issued on the parcel(s) will be required to adhere to the fee structure of the County- wide Road Impact Fee Program and the County Facility Fee and Drainage Impact Fee Program. (Department of Planning Services) 27. The number of employees associated with the daily operations of mining and processing operations is limited to 6 persons per shift. (Department of Planning Services) 28. 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) 29. The property owner or operator shall provide written evidence of an approved Emergency Action and Safety Plan on or before March 15th of any given year signed by representatives for the Fire District and the Weld County Office of Emergency Management to the Department of Planning Services. (Department of Planning Services) 30. The property owner or operator shall be responsible for complying with the Design Standards of Section 23-2-240 of the Weld County Code. 31. The property owner or operator shall be responsible for complying with the Operation Standards of Section 23-2-250 of the Weld County Code. 32. The property owner or operator shall be responsible for complying with the Open -mining Standards of Section 23-4-250, Weld County Code. 33. 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. (Department of Planning Services) 34. 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. 35. In accordance with Section 23-2-200.E of the Weld County Code, if the Use by Special Review has not commenced from the date of approval or is discontinued for a period of three (3) consecutive years, it shall be presumed inactive. The county shall initiate an administrative hearing to consider whether to grant an extension of time to commence the use or revoke the Use by Special Review. If the Use by Special Review is revoked, it shall be necessary to follow the procedures and requirements of Division 4 of the Weld County Code in order to reestablish any Use by Special Review. (Department of Planning Services) 36. 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. (Department of Planning Services) Bestway Concrete, Inc. U S R17-0054 Page 10 37. 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. 38. 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 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 Bestway Concrete, Inc. U S R17-0054 Page 11 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. Bestway Concrete, Inc. U S R17-0054 Page 12 November 13, 2017 DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING SERVICES 1555 N 17th AVE GREELEY, CO 80631 WEBSITE: www.co.weld.co.us E-MAIL: kogle@weldgov.com PHONE: (970) 353-6100, Ext. 3549 FAX: (970) 304-6498 RODRIGUEZ ANDY 323 FIFTH STREET FREDERICK, CO 80530 Subject: USR17-0054 - A Site Specific Development Plan and Special Review Permit for Mineral Resource Development including Open Pit Mining (sand, gravel and stone), and materials processing in the A (Agricultural) Zone District. On parcel{s) of land described as: PART NW4 SECTION 19, T6N, R67W LOT AAND B REC EXEMPT RE -1802 OF THE 6TH P.M., WELD COUNTY, COLORADO. PT NW4NW4 SECTION 19, T6N, R67W OF THE 6TH P.M., WELD COUNTY, COLORADO. Dear Applicants: I have scheduled a meeting with the Weld County Planning Commission on December 5, 2017, at 12:30 p.m. Asubsequent hearing with the Board of County Commissioners will be held on January 3, 2018 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.weldcountyplanningcases.orq If you have any questions concerning this matter, please call. Respectfully, Kim Ogl Planner DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING SERVICES 1555 N 17th AVE GREELEY, CO 80631 WEBSITE: www.co.weld.co.us E-MAIL: kogle@weldgov.com PHONE: (970) 353-6100, Ext. 3549 FAX: (970) 304-6498 September 22, 2017 LEE ANDY 323 FIFTH ST FREDERICK CO 80530 Subject: USR17-0054 - Gravel Mine On parcel(s) of land described as: PART NW4 SECTION 19, T6N, R67W LOT B REC EXEMPT RE -1802 OF THE 6TH P.M., WELD COUNTY, COLORADO. PART NW4 SECTION 19, T6N, R67W LOT A REC EXEMPT RE -1802 OF THE 6TH P.M., WELD COUNTY, COLORADO. PART NW4NW4 SECTION 19, T6N, 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. It is the policy of Weld County to refer an application of this nature to any town or municipality lying within three miles of the property in question or if the property under consideration is located within the comprehensive planning area of a town or municipality. Therefore, our office has forwarded a copy of the submitted materials to the following Planning Departments for their review and comments: Windsor at Phone Number 970-674-2400 It is recommended that you contact the listed Planning Departments for information regarding their process and to answer any questions that might arise with respect to your application. If you have any questions concerning this matter, please call. Respectfully, Kim Og Planner August 28, 2017 DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING SERVICES PLANNING DIVISION 1555 N. 17TH AVENUE GREELEY, CO 80631 970-400-3549 FAX 970-304-6498 kogle@weldgov.corrt Mr. Andy Rodriguez Civil Resources, LLC 323 Fifth Street Frederick, Colorado 80530 Subject: 7 -day Completeness Review for the Bestway Concrete Lee Property mine Dear Andy: The Departments of County Planning — Development Review Engineer, Environmental Health and Planning Services have reviewed the submitted materials for the proposed Bestway Concrete Windsor Mine, Lee property inclusion located on land described as being three parcels, Lot A and Lot B RE -1802 and part of NW4 NW4 all in Section 19, Township 6 North, Range 67 West of the 5th P.M., County of Weld, State of Colorado. Thank you for your application submittal. Comments concerning this land use application are as follows: Building Inspection: No comments at this juncture. The contact for this land use application will be Jose Gonzales with Building Inspection, 970.400.3533. The Environmental Health Department reviewed the application for completeness and has determined there is not sufficient documentation to proceed with the application. Ms. Light in her referral comment received August 15, 2017 requests additional information. Please provide a Noise Control Plan. Will there be a crusher located on this site? How will mining material be transported to the adjacent site? By conveyor or vehicle? For dust control, will interior mining roads be watered and loads covered if transported? Is this a dry mine? The pre -app information included in this application states wet mining. Will there be any fuel storage on site? Will there be washing of vehicle or equipment? Will all the secondary operations be completed on the adjacent mining site? The contact for this land use application will be Lauren Light with Environmental Health, 970.400.2211. County Planning — Development Review Engineer has reviewed the 7 -Day Completeness Review and finds that there is not adequate information to review this submittal. Ms. Balzano in her referral comment received August 24, 2017 requests additional information. Please provide a drainage narrative. The Drainage Narrative must describe at a minimum: Which exception is being applied for and include supporting documentation (6. Gravel pits if the stormwater drains into the gravel pit.) ii. Where the water originates if it flows onto the property from an offsite source iii. Where it flows to as it leaves the property iv. The direction of flow across the property v. If there have been previous drainage problems with the property The contact for this land use application will be Hayley Balzano who may be reached at 970.400.3552. The Department of Planning Services has reviewed the submitted materials for the Bestway Lee property Mine application and have the following comments: 1. Please submit a Letter of Authorization stating that Mr. Mark Johnson may act on behalf of the Bestway Company and provide evidence that the person who is appointing him to do so has that authority. 2. Use by Special Review (Mining Operation) Application cover sheet. Please modify Legal description to accurately define the property in review. 3. Use by Special Review (Mining Operation) Application cover sheet. Please identify that the property is within the 100 -year Floodplain/ Floodway 4. Please submit one original Certificate of Conveyances form and attachments for each parcel of land to be included in this application. The Conveyances must be dated to be within 30 -days of the final submittal. 5. Please submit a copy of any oil and gas agreement for the three (3) properties, if applicable. 6. Please submit a copy of any irrigation or ditch agreement for the three (3) properties, if applicable. 7. Please submit one copy of affidavit and certified list of the names, addresses and corresponding parcel identification number assigned by the Weld County and Larimer County Assessor of the owners' property (surface estate) within 500 feet of the property being considered. 8. Please submit a Notice of Inquiry Form from the Town of Windsor indicating that Bestway Concrete, Inc. has spoken to Town representatives for this project. If the form is not available, an electronic mail from the Director of Planning is acceptable stating their position. 9. Please provide evidence of an access permit from a publicly maintain road onto, at a minimum, one of the three parcels. 10. Please comment, are there area lights on premises for twilight operations? Will cut sheets be provided? 11. Please resubmit the Use by Special Review (Mining Operation) Application in the following segments: Application Deed(s) Maps Soil Survey documents, if applicable Surrounding Property Owners — Surface Estate Easements or Agreements with Utility Service Providers 12. Please identify all documents as being part of the application for the Bestway Windsor Gravel Mine. With the re -submittal of the missing application components and accompanied with the additional information required as outlined in this letter, including the application fee of five hundred (500.00) dollars planning staff will set the case for processing if the application is deemed complete. This phase of the planning process is a content review of the submitted materials, NOT a technical review. Comments made during this phase of the process will not be all-inclusive. County staff will perform a detailed technical review of the project once the submittal application is deemed acceptable and is promoted to the review phase of the planning process. With documents and formatted materials received as specified herein and re -submitted to this office for case initiation and set-up, staff will commence with the referral process. Should you have additional questions or require clarification on any of the points presented herein, please contact Kim at 970.400.3549. Thank you. incerely, Ki •� e Pla • in+ Services File: Bestway Windsor, PRE16-0287 FIELD CHECK USR17-0054 Bestway Concrete Company Inspection Date: November 20, 2017 Request: A Site Specific Development Plan and Special Review Permit for Mineral Resource Development including Open Pit Mining (sand, gravel and stone) the A (Agricultural) Zone District Zoning Land Use N A (Agricultural) N Residence and Reclaimed Gravel Mine utilized for water storage (SUP -17) E A (Agricultural) E Gravel Mine AmUSR-571 (George & Betty Hall) S Town of Windsor S Active Concrete Batch Plant (Bestway Concrete) W Larimer County W Reclaimed Gravel Mine utilized for water storage The property is fenced in three strand barb wire and is posted as a Mine Site. Aside from the prairie dog colonies located across the landscape, the three parcels are vacant. There is no direct access onto either State Highway 392 or onto County Road 13. The site lies low to the both adjacent roads and there are gravel deposits visible at the surface. Access to the parcels will be from the south through the existing Bestway Concrete Plant operations area. No visual signs of a land use violation were present. al -! ! _.� •i v�• Tu". •. '3 t6'„ . 1. \ ^'mow IAl t i. • - • �i 4 AlLatia. 11." -_ •-- ..._� -ice' USR-12E IAM CO?ttERC 1AL ^REE NIHOU SE USR-3O8 MINING Ak R E3Lnr_IA.TI �1d Hello