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Skyway Association opposes Snyder project The following letter was sent to the Mined Land Reclamation Boazd wnceming the May 24 heaz- ingon the "eight-acre expansion of the Snyder Quarry in Williams can- yon": After investigating the legali- ties of this whole situation, we (of the Skyway Association) must become myopic, like many other people involved in the azgument, and keep our comments limited only to reclamation, Even on the grounds of reclaim mation, it is3ffticuli Cor us to be, lieve that anyone can accept the concept that Castle Concrete (wholly own onunental Materials o Chicago can success- fully reclaim the pro osed Sn der uarry expansion through simple topsoil seeding and spmY-l~Wg e canyon w sTdcesn t sTeem necessary to say anything more for a rational person [o come m the conclusion that this fabricated rec- lamation idea is a sham. As further evidence of Caste Concrete's reclamation record, every business visitor to locations on the Gazden of the Gods Road asks"What happened to thatmoun- tain on the west end of the road?" It is regrettable that such strong words have been used above, but nobody ever seems to Continued on next page :r J.W. Armstrong President of the Skyway Homeowners Association B4 GAZETTE TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, DEC. 9, 1988 -. , Firm sues over gravel mine rejection By Rlch Laden Gazette Telegraph A Colorado Springs firm that was denied permission last month to mine gravel on the city's northwest side filed suit Thursday, alleging that the City Council's rejection was an illegal seizure of the property to pro- tect the mountain views of area residents. The suit asks a 4th Judicial District Court judge to order Lhe city to grant a conditional use permit allowing HLBE lnc. to mine gravel on a 66-acre hillside northwest of the Oak Valley housing subdivision. The City Council's unanimous vote Nov. 8 to deny a permit de- prived IILBE of the right to make "reasonable economic use" of its property, the suit alleges. And, the suit states, the coun- cil's action was "unduly op- pressive" and sought to protect the "mountain and foothill back- drop of the city for the general welfare of its citizens..." The suit also states that a 1973 state law encourages the extraction of valuable mineral deposits and that the city's Com- mercial Mineral Deposit Master Plan acknowledges that mineral deposits are vital to the area's economy. HLBE contends that the city illegally seized the property without compensating the firm, violating the state and federal constitutions. (t a permit is not granted, the suit asks that the city use its eminent domain powers to con- demn the property and reim- burse HLBE for the land. The property would have a value of more than $2 million if devel- oped, the suit states. The suit also asks that the firm be compensated for the loss of the property's use from Nov. 8. until the permit is granted or the condemnation takes place. HLBE sought to mine 1.7 mil- lion tons of gravel from the hill- side over five years. Afterward, the firm planned to build luxury homes on the site. In its rejection of the project, the City Council said gravel is not a commercial mineral de- posit, City Attorney Jim Colvin said Thursday. In addition, Col- vin said, the council believed that HLBE did not meet the city's criteria to obtain a condi- tional use permit for the extrac- tion oC minerals. City planners had recommen- ded chat the City Council reject the mining operation because it would be incompptible with nearby residential areas. City planners also agreed with area residents, who argued that even a temporary mine would be an eyesore. They also said it would create dust and would increase truck traffic. Although HLBE proposed mining for five years, area resi- dents argued that the firm could reapply for a permit and that the operation might become a permanent scar on the hillside. Contlnuedfromprecedingpage ~~ get the message. Thti MLRB is requested to realistically.consideL,:~ the actual Ceasibility of the ieclama- ~; Lion of the Snyder Quazry expan-•.'~' sion: ~' This Metter represents some 1 "dedicated Colorndo'~people who justcan'tbelievewhatishappening . to us. .