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~~~V cf fAV~T <br />9 <br />325 E. Aspen <br />Suite 155 <br />Fruita CO 81521 <br />970/858-3663 <br />970/858-0210 FAX <br />E Mail <br />fruits@fruita.org <br />Web Site <br />fruita.org <br />City Manager's Office <br />970/858-3663 <br />City Clerk/Finance <br />970/858-3663 <br />Community <br />Development <br />970/858-0786 <br />Public Works <br />Director <br />970/858-0786 <br />Shop <br />970/858-9558 <br />Recreation Dept. <br />970/858-0360 <br />III IIIIIIIIIIIIIIII • <br />June 04, 2001 <br />RECcIVED <br />JUN 1 1 2001 <br />Mr. James C. Stevens, Senior Environmental Protection Specialist Oiuisian of Minerals and Geology <br />Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology <br />1313 Sherman St., Room 215 <br />Denver, Colorado 80203 <br />Dear Mr. Stevens: <br />Re: Grand Junction Concrete Pipe Co., South Fruits Gravel Pit, Permit No. M-1981-243 <br />The following presents comments of the City of Fruita on the Amendment application for <br />the above referenced Permit. <br />This Amendment Application proposes an expansion of the existing gravel mining <br />operation at the south end of 17 %: Road (South Maple Street) near the Colorado River, on <br />leased property. The existing pit of approximately 51 acres is currently being mined out. <br />The new pit area will increase the total size of the operation to 104 acres, basically <br />creating a new pit of approximately the same size as the old pit. Although the mining <br />operations aze located in Mesa County, approximately % mile south of the existing Fruits <br />City Limits, the proposed traffic pattern for heavy trucks and other equipment includes <br />City streets for ingress and egress to the pit, creating impacts to both current and future <br />City infrastructure and residents, as further described below. The City does not oppose <br />continued gravel mining operations, but believes any imparts on the City <br />infrastructure and residents should be fully mitigated av a oonditioo of the peruvt <br />approval <br />Traffic impacts <br />Streets within the City Limits impacted by the project include approximately %: mile of <br />South Maple (17 %: Rd), 2 miles of the I-70 Frontage Road, and potentially'/. miles of <br />South Mesa Street (17'/, Rd) if for some reason the primary access on 17 %: Rd is <br />temporarily unavailable. When the original pit was permitted in 1981, land use along 17 <br />'/. Rd and 17 %= Rd was generally rural agricultural, and medium to high density <br />development was minimal, consisting of approximately 110 units, with only about 25 units <br />tributary to South Maple, the main ingress/egress route. Currently, the South Fruits area is <br />experiencing rapid growth. Two residential subdivisions (Stone Mountain, Redcliffs No. <br />2) comprising 162 units are currently permitted and under coostntctioa A large <br />commercial subdivision (Kokopelli) is also under construction, with access to South Mesa <br />Street. In addition, one major subdivision (Red Rock Village) and two annexations <br />(LeBaron, Henry) with the potential for approximately 110 new units are currently being <br />processed. Other large parcel owners in the area have also expressed interest in future <br />subdivision development. <br />The attached Exhibit "A" shows subdivisions potentially impacted by truck traffic from <br />the mining operation, the year they were platted into the City, and the number of [toils or <br />potential units. A second attachment, Exhibit "B", is the land use plan from our current <br />2020 planning document (Comprehensive Plan). Of note, this document identifies South <br />Fruits as an urban growth area and also identifies the area as a desired location for a new <br />elementary school. <br />mot. ~ p~ . L'.widnr.1~w ~r~lic3a ~~ iT <br />