Laserfiche WebLink
bronchitis and tuberculosis. This is a health issue for the abutting and nearby residential home <br /> owners and their livestock. <br /> • The proposed quarry will create increased truck traffic by approximately 624 trucks per day, in <br /> addition to the existing truck traffic from the three operating quarries. This will create traffic <br /> hazards detrimental to the safety of County residents as well as the bicyclist and motor bike <br /> clubs and individual "bikers" who use the 115 Southwestern Corridor as a major thoroughfare <br /> due to the area's geographic and aesthetic appeal. <br /> • The Bauer Ranch and Eagle's Nest neighborhoods have one entrance and one exit rendering <br /> them land locked in the event of fire,traffic accident, blasting accident, landslides due to <br /> blasting, etc. <br /> • Currently there are three existing quarries within an 8 mile radius; these quarries are currently <br /> operating at half their capacity. A better plan; and a plan that would have less impact to the <br /> community and surrounding area would be to expand the existing quarries. This would also be <br /> consistent with our Master Plan—Southwestern/Highway 115 Comprehensive Plan. <br /> • Wildlife, wildlife habitats,wildlife migratory paths and biodiversity will be lost. An <br /> environmental study needs to be completed, rather than take the word of the applicant,that <br /> there are no endangered species located on the land or nearby lands. The proposed quarry site <br /> could be in violation of the Federal and State Endangered Species Act. The Mexican Spotted <br /> Owl, "Strix occidentalis lucida", is State and federally threatened, and has been identified in the <br /> Southwestern/Highway 115 Corridor. <br /> • Moving dirt and extracting rock from the ground alters the flow of water runoff. The abutting <br /> neighborhoods depend strictly on well water supplies for all their water needs. There is <br /> potential for well contamination and/or damage, or complete loss from nearby blasting, <br /> contamination from blowing dust, and water runoff. Additionally,the heavy equipment <br /> necessary for quarrying, and that uses gasoline, diesel, oil and transmission fluids; can <br /> potentially leak these fluids. Small amounts to larger spills can contaminate 100'to 1000's of <br /> gallons of ground water. <br /> Quarrying requires heavy equipment, blasting, drilling, earthmoving, all of which create noise and dust, <br /> and, would certainly diminish the quality of life and well-being of the adjacent land owners and <br /> surrounding area. Southwestern/Highway 115 Corridor's unparalleled natural beauty will be <br /> compromised and the landscape densely populated with quarries and their side effects. The 115 <br /> Southwestern Highway area is currently taxed by the activities and traffic associated with Fort Carson, <br /> Cheyenne Mountain State Park, RV Parks,and privately owned parks opened to the public, within the <br /> surrounding area. Protection of the land, environment, and public health, safety, and wellbeing is <br /> consistent with my constitutional rights. In alliance with the "Highway 115 Citizen's Advisory <br /> Committee",the citizens, and the fellow neighborhoods along the corridor, I am opposed to the quarry <br /> development. <br /> Sincerely, <br /> Sara & Marty Harper <br /> Y/v <br />