2016-03-31_PERMIT FILE - M2016010 (3)

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Transportation. Transportation along the Highway 115 corridor is unique in that the normal hierarchy of roads do not exist. Highway 115 is the lifeline upon which residents depend. It is the only means of transportation into,out of, and within the community. There are no other alternatives, and residents cannot avoid using Highway 115 for life-sustaining transportation needs. Thus,the condition and safety of Highway 115 are primary concerns of all residents.According to the El Paso County Major Transportation Corridors Plan(MTCP), Highway 115 south of Fort Carson's main gate is functionally classified as"congested".Major sections of the highway are two lane,including the point at which Transit Mix proposes to access the highway. The proposed highway access point is also located at a historically dangerous place,with multiple fatal traffic accidents in recent years. Unfortunately,the MTCP Roadway Plan does not call for any improvements to Highway 115 through the year 2040, so the highway we have now is what we will live with for many years to come. If the Hitch Rack Ranch Quarry is allowed to proceed, an already congested highway, currently bearing truck traffic from three active quarries,will be burdened by as many as 624 additional trucks per day when the quarry is at full production.This additional traffic will exacerbate traffic hazards not only for the local residents,and also for the many commuters who use this major thoroughfare to Colorado Springs, as well as the many tourists,bicyclists, and motorcycle clubs who frequent the area for it's unique geographic and aesthetic appeal. Existing Quarries.There are currently three quarries operating within a five mile stretch along Highway 115,the nearest less than three miles from the proposed Hitch Rack Ranch Quarry site. The quarry operators report they are currently operating at roughly half their capacity. When questioned why such low production, the response is"insufficient demand". This calls into question the need for yet another quarry on the backs of the already burdened local residents. Proximity to Local Residents. There are more than 140 properties within two miles of the proposed quarry site, some as close as 1200 feet and with direct line-of-sight to the quarry operations. The vast majority,if not all, of these property owners are vehemently opposed to the applicant's quarry plans. The policies incorporated in the El Paso County Southwestern Highway 115 Comprehensive Plan (see below)state"any resource extraction operation should be located a minimum of two miles distant from any dissenting residents". Comprehensive Development Plan. This application for permit is in clear violation of the current Southwestern(Highway 115)Comprehensive Plan.This is a plan commissioned and adopted by the El Paso County Board of County Commissioners for the Highway 115 area. This comprehensive plan foresaw the potential for future demands for mineral resource extraction in the area, and adopted specific policies to address it. The Hitch Rack Ranch Quarry application is in specific violation of the following policies in this plan: 1. The entire burden of proof for demonstrating the existence of extractable mineral resources should lie with the applicant. Designation of potentially extractable mineral resources in the Master Plan for the Extraction of Commercial Mineral Deposits should in no way be seen as a justification or an implied right for mining. 2. Resource extraction operations in general are not supported in the planning area.However, the presence of existing operations is recognized,and if future conditions dictate the necessity for additional supplies of aggregate, the expansion of existing operations is preferred over new quarries. 3. At no time during their operations should resource extraction affect the quantity, quality, or dependability of residents' existing water supplies or result in the diversion of existing water supplies. The full burden of proof for assuring this will lie with the applicant. 4. Access from Highway 115 to any resource extraction operation should not affect the quality of the existing access to area residents. 3