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<br />Both South Maple and South Mesa are generally narrow roads built to County <br />specifications, and are in poor repair. Except adjacent to newer City subdivisions where <br />road improvements have been required as part of development, these roads are generally <br />only 22 to 24 feet wide and lack any significant shoulder or any type of curb, sidewalk, or <br />pedestrian path. Safety considerations warrant improvements to these roads to mitigate <br />and minimize conFlicts between gravel pit truck traffic and increased residential pedestrian <br />traffic. [n addition, all elementary and middle school age children in the South Fruita area <br />are bused, warranting a restriction on truck traffic during normal pickup times. <br />Concerning City infrastructure, heavy truck traffic substantially increases wear and tear on <br />the road surfaces, resulting in a correspondingly lower life expectancy for new or repaired <br />asphalt. According to the Colorado Asphalt Pavement Association, tests have shown that <br />a single, fully loaded 80,000 pound truck can cause pavement damage equivalent to that <br />caused by 6,000 automobiles (Exhibit "C"). Thus, the City of Fruita believes the majority <br />of the burden (and cost) for tfie repair and maintenance of City streets impacted by gravel <br />trucks should be borne by the gravel pit operator. <br />Based on the above, the City requests, as part of permit approval, the following <br />stipulations and mitigation measures, PRIOR TO the new pit beginning operations: <br />1. The gravel operator should pay for, or construct, road improvements to South Maple <br />Street (17 %: Road) consisting of the following: Reconstruct South Maple Street to a <br />26 foot wide asphalt travel surface, with standard 7 foot wide vertical curb, gutter and <br />sidewalk on the east side only, continuous from the I-70 frontage road southward to <br />the south property line of the Henry property (note: this will be the new City Limit <br />boundary once the Henry Annexation is complete). The total distance in question is <br />approximately 2700 feet (including the Henry & LeBaron frontage), however, <br />improvements are aheady fimded and under construction along the 800 feet of the <br />Stone Mountain frontage. Right of Way acquisition will be the responsibility of the <br />City. The City will also offer the gravel pit operator a recapture agreement such that <br />new developments will pay back an equitable percentage of the road improvement <br />costs based on the'v impact. <br />2. The gravel operator should widen and overlay 17 '/z Road south of the City Limits to a <br />26 foot wide travel surface. <br />3. The gravel operator should commit to repair and maintenance costs for South Maple <br />Street, consisting of chip and seal, and/or overlay work on a regularly scheduled basis, <br />not to exceed 5 years. Alternatively, the gavel pit operator could contribute on a <br />quarterly or semi-annual basis to the City road repair fund, based on usage. <br />4. Trucks should be specifically precluded from using South Mesa Street (17 '/. Road), <br />except under emergency or road closure situations, including the two "shortcuts" to <br />Highway 340 through the Redcliffs Subdivision or Kokopelli Commercial Park. <br />Alternatively, if South Mesa is to be a permitted travel path, reconstruction and <br />widening of South Mesa Street should be required. <br />5. On school days, hauling operations should not begin before the last scheduled bus <br />pickup time, per School District 51 schedule. <br />6. If at such time a new elementary school is constructed in South Fruita, the Permit <br />stipulations should be re-visited to evaluate new traffic patterns and hours of <br />operation, as well as potential noise, dust and odor impacts. <br />