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the many tourists, bicyclists, and motorcycle clubs who frequent the area for it's unique <br /> geographic and aesthetic appeal. <br /> Existine Quarries.There are currently three quarries operating within 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 <br /> question 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 <br /> proposed quarry site, some as close as 1200 feet and with direct line-of-sight to the quarry <br /> operations. The vast majority, if not all, of these property owners are vehemently opposed to the <br /> applicant's quarry plans.The policies incorporated in the El Paso County Southwestern Highway <br /> 115 Comprehensive Plan(see below) state"any resource extraction operation should be located a <br /> minimum of two miles distant from any dissenting residents". <br /> Comprehensive Development Plan.This application for permit is in clear violation of the <br /> current Southwestern(Highway 115) Comprehensive Plan. This is a plan commissioned and <br /> adopted by the El Paso County Board of County Commissioners for the Highway 115 area. This <br /> comprehensive plan foresaw the potential for future demands for mineral resource extraction in <br /> the area,and adopted specific policies to address:it...TheHitch,R.ack Ranch Quarry application is <br /> in specific 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 <br /> planning area. However,the presence of existing operations is recognized, and if future <br /> conditions dictate the necessity for additional supplies of aggregate,the expansion of <br /> existing 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 <br /> with the applicant. <br /> 4. Access from Highway 115 to any resource extraction operation should <br /> not affect the quality of the existing access to area residents. <br /> 5. Unless it can be demonstrated that topography will shield existing <br /> residents from visual,noise, and dust impacts,all resource extraction operations should <br /> be located a minimum of two miles distant from any dissenting residents. <br /> 6. Wildlife and wildlife protection routes should be protected through the <br /> development of a wildlife overlay zone, addressing the need for protecting critical habitat <br /> areas. <br /> 7. Development should not be allowed in riparian areas,both because the <br /> hazard of flooding and because of their exceptionally high wildlife values. Any drainage <br /> improvements undertaken in the area should be treatd in the most natural way possible to <br /> minimize any impacts on riparian areas. <br /> 8. The specific area of Aiken Canyon is identified as a unique and <br /> significant biological resource of state-wide significance that should continue to be <br /> preserved. Preservation is not compatible with most public access,and management <br /> should maximize wildlife and scientific values. <br /> 3 <br />