2022-05-02_GENERAL DOCUMENTS - M2022013 (2)

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® ��++ pA�pril 26, 2022 To: Colorado Division of Reclamation Mining and Safety From: Karen Johnson, concerned homeowner hA 0 2 2022 Re: County Road 396 proposed gravel pits CI'"SION OF RECLAMATION, MlivlNG &SAFETY-MINERALS To whom it may concern, My name is Karen Johnson. I live at 24350 Compo Rd. .The address is technically outside of the Greeley city limits, but the mailing address is Greeley, Co.,80634. Our house is on the corner of Compo Rd. and 54th St. Rd. ---and right across the street from what is currently dirt road 396. 1 like to take walks on the dirt road. In the summertime,fields of feed corn and sometimes cabbage and/or onions.The South Platte River can be seen, and sometimes heard,through the trees. Hawks. Wild turkey. One time I saw the most amazing murmuration performing a ballet high above the trees along the river. Someone from your office should drive up and see what I'm talking about. About a week ago I noticed a PUBLIC NOTICE poster tacked onto several fence posts.A proposed "construction materials operation", by Varra Companies, Inc. But we know what that means. Gravel pits. Sigh. I called Mr. Garret Varra and politely suggested that he donate the entire acreage to Nature Conservancy. Good karma, I said----and a good tax write off. Mother Earth would smile. [ I say good naturedly.] He was very friendly and polite and I know that a gift to Nature Conservancy is wishful thinking. So--- I have a suggestion that might help to make this future aggravation a bit more palatable for the many people who live nearby and will grieve the loss of what is now such a charming landscape and who will undoubtedly be affected, adversely, by the noise and by the TRUCKS. BIG TRUCKS, I imagine. The dirt road 396 runs roughly north-south,opening onto 54th St. Rd. on the north, and opening onto----well, it's not clear,from the map,what the road to the south is called. 77th Ave or CR 27%:or an extension of Two Rivers Pkwy.The area directly to the north of the dirt road is residential. Quiet. 541h St. Rd. is a small, pleasant,winding country road. If you head East on 541h St.Rd.you will pass by a great number of homes. If you drive west on 541h St. Rd.your intent can only be to get onto 34, but that means passing by the Middle School and then through more residential and commercial. However, if you exit 396 to the south, onto 771h Ave.you will find yourself on a larger and faster road, with a decidedly more industrial feel to it.And far,far fewer homes.Two, I think.And the homes on 77th Ave. are probably already used to the fast, more commercial traffic. Therefore, I'm proposing that--- if the Varra Company is granted a permit to develop gravel pits on 396,that it will be conditional on an agreement that truck access to the gravel pits will be exclusively via 77th Ave. ----- No Varra trucks on 541h St. Rd. I believe this is a reasonable request.Trucks will have little impact if they enter and exit 396 from 77th Ave.Trucks will have HUGE quality-of-life impact on a lot of people if they enter and exit 396 from 541h St. Rd. Please come up and see what I'm talking about.