PERMFILE48888 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Paricdale Recreation Site Statistics Type of Visitors by Recreational Activity for 1996 Commercial Staff Numbers Commercial Clients Private Users Totals Commercial 19,613 92,374 N/A 111,987 Private Rafting/ ICa N/A N/A 9,500 9,500 F' N/A N/A 1,050 I,OSO Si ~ icai ~ N/A N/A 3 830 3,830 Total Number of P le 19,613 92,374 14,380 126,367 • We would like to point out that a significant amount of rafting and fishing also occurs at a private river access called "Browns Landing" adjacent to the bridge on the north side of the river. We believe that this significant river access site would also be impacted negatively if this mine goes into operation. The analysis of the overall traffic impacts is not complete. Approximately 12,255 vehicles including vans & busses with trailers utilize the Parkdale Recreation Site. Hwy 50 has about S,OSO vehicles per day at peak traffic season. This proposal shows 2 trucks per hour leaving and 2 empty trucks per hour returning everyday yeaz around except on Sundays. Additionally 30 + employees will enter and exit Hwy 50 over this small access road. This is approximately 28,824 vehicles per year. The analysis needs to detail needed highway safety measures, including the possible need for constmction of accel and decel lanes, the impacts to Hwy SO traffic, the impacts to traffic in the immediate area, and show evidence of consultation with CDOT. • The proposal offered appears inadequate to us in its presentation of the environmental impacts to the site and the area, specifically; 1. Visual resource impacts to the millions of people driving along the entire stretch of highway SO & going in and out of the Royal Gorge west entrance aze not presented in detail sufficient to carry out any reasonable analysis. i 2. Physical impacts to the environment {related to river water quality, visual resources, soils, noise, air quality, dust, the vegetation etc. } are not described sufficiently to allow other agencies, local government entities, or individuals in the area with a direct interest in this operation the background necessazy to provide any reasonable review of the fads, nor to provide comments to the commission in an adequate roamer. We feel very strongly that the public and the Fremont P&Z Commission need to have this information in front of them prior to acting upon the issuance of a conditional use permit. 3. Economic impacts to the tourism industry already in place near and along this potential mine site { the Upper Arkansas River Valley has a SSO million rafting industry depending heavily upon the Pazkdale site and ffie viewing of surrounding scenic hills while on the river. The Royal Gorge Company's west entrance route is within sight of this mine. } are not addressed at all. These questions and others related to recreation and tourism need to be looked at in detail. Again, we believe the commission needs these facts prior to making a decision on the permit. Page 2