2016-04-19_PERMIT FILE - M2016010 (10)

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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: l. 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. 5. Unless it can be demonstrated that topography will shield existing residents from visual, noise, and dust impacts, all resource extraction operations should be located a minimum of two miles distant from any dissenting residents. 6. Wildlife and wildlife protection routes should be protected through the development of a wildlife overlay zone, addressing the need for protecting critical habitat areas. 7. Development should not be allowed in riparian areas, both because the hazard of flooding and because of their exceptionally high wildlife values. Any drainage improvements undertaken in the area should be treatd in the most natural way possible to minimize any impacts on riparian areas. 8. The specific area of Aiken Canyon is identified as a unique and significant biological resource of state-wide significance that should continue to be preserved. Preservation is not compatible with most public access, and management should maximize wildlife and scientific values. 4