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