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ALAMOSA VALLEY COURIER ~ / 2 2/ ~J Z
<br />Alamosa, CO (((
<br />(Alamosa County)
<br />Tu-SafPM15,029_ __
<br />Commiss
<br />J6lEftIN MACGII.LiVRAY SMITH
<br />Special to the Cowder
<br />CONEJOS - Conejos County
<br />Commissioners took under ad-
<br />visement the revocation of a con-
<br />ditional use permit for Mr. and Mrs.
<br />B.D. Griffin's gravel pit after a 2'h-
<br />hourpublic hearing on Friday.
<br />Commissioners have been
<br />criticized for issuing the conditional
<br />use in the first place on Nov. 15, 1990.
<br />Opponents want commissioners to
<br />rescind their action and to deny any
<br />expansion at the site.
<br />loners consider revocation of Antonito pit permit
<br />Opponents say the 6.4-acre site,
<br />located near the junction of U.S. 285
<br />and Colorado 17 within view of the
<br />area's primary tourist attraction, the
<br />Gambrel and Toltec Scenic Railroad,
<br />is an eyesore and will discourage
<br />tourism and economic development.
<br />Gravel from the Griffin pit is being
<br />mined by Corn Construction of Grand
<br />Junction for sale to New Mexico for
<br />that state's roads.
<br />(J6s Garda of Manasse, attom~
<br />for Demetrio and Ohve Yafdez, b
<br />osa a gravel pit! not tar from @(E
<br />Commissioners consider
<br />revocation of Antonito pit permit
<br />(Continued from page 1)
<br />Jura.
<br />Garcia, a member o[ the Colorado
<br />Highway Cbmtnisvon, told com-
<br />missionersthegravel pit lies Just off a
<br />portion of the newly approved Scenic
<br />and Historic Byways which em-
<br />phasizes the historic centrtbutions of
<br />Indians, Hispanics and Mormons in
<br />the area. (The roads are Colorado 17
<br />from Champ, N.M., to Mtonito, U.S.
<br />285 from Mtonito to Romeo, the road
<br />from Romeo to San Luis and Colorado
<br />159 from the state line through the San
<br />Luis to Fort Garland. )
<br />Garcia also argued that proper
<br />notice of the Nov. 15, 1990, hearing,
<br />not given to adjacent property
<br />owners.
<br />land vae adtninstrstor Mike LuJan
<br />read the list of property owners to
<br />whom the notice was mailed, noting
<br />that every part in interest in the room
<br />find been notified.
<br />The cormniationers' meeting room,
<br />which holds 24 besides county d=
<br />ficials, was full for Friday's hearing.
<br />Nezt Thursday, the rnunty planting
<br />cormd.9sion will hold a hearing on a
<br />request from the Griffins [or ex-
<br />pansion of their pit to another 7.2
<br />acres in their property and from the
<br />Demetrio Valdezes, who allegedly did
<br />Griffin pit, argued that the Griffin pit
<br />not only is an eyesore but also ilta,
<br />pakntial three! to ditch rights in tl~
<br />,epee because water flowing throagh
<br />the Antonito and Canon ditches can't!
<br />daawlt into the pit and lost ~
<br />ate.
<br />A representative of one of the ditch
<br />companies said water in the gravel
<br />pit could prove a legal liability for the
<br />ditch company besides a loss of
<br />water.
<br />Several ditch company
<br />repesenlatives said the pit cd~d
<br />afftct the stability of their ditMwv
<br />because of the type of soul th the atm.
<br />Mrs. Valdez said the Griffin pit is th
<br />opposition to everything Mtonito is
<br />trying to accomplish. Citizens are
<br />trying to beautify their town, and tl~
<br />pit, with piles of gravel standlag
<br />atteuntl, is hardly beautiful, she salt.
<br />Gsoaia notert teat CAa Con-
<br />struction, which does not intend to
<br />move the gravel until May when the
<br />C&TSRR begins ifs seasonal runs,
<br />uristakenly mined gravel Aom tilt
<br />lead of two adJacentproperiy owtRls,
<br />McDougal Investments of Denver and
<br />Pat Garoutte.
<br />Corn was fined X3,000 try the
<br />Colorado Mined Land Reclamation
<br />Board, which also ordered the con-
<br />struction company to replace the
<br />wrongfully mined gravel on the two
<br />properties and reclaim a gravel pit
<br />mined earlier on the property, Gracie
<br />said.
<br />&srocia malntah~ed that tf Griffn
<br />mowed Corn W take gravel from {Re
<br />2.lecres remaining to 6e mined ft~Ih
<br />hia,latld to replace the gravel on ~
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<br />McDougalGarontte propettt~I1R
<br />mining would exceed the pis~~ied
<br />aptllttnM
<br />Conejos County Attorney Martin
<br />Gonzales, from whom co~*+m_s+oners
<br />want a legal opinion before they make
<br />a decision, said Garcia' argument
<br />raised new questions. Noting that he
<br />had not been advised of the wrongful
<br />mining 6y Corn an the McDouge]-
<br />Garoutte'properties, Gorva]es allied
<br />for legal briefs from Garcia and Erom
<br />Griffins attorney, Felix Valdez of Le~
<br />ICondnnedonpage3)
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