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From: "Steve Moms" <steves_emQhotmail.com> <br />To: "Delta County Planning Dept" <planning(c~deltacounty.com> <br />Date: 2/18105 3:14PM <br />Subject: Benson Brothers rock quarry appliption <br />To: Delta County Planning Department <br />Planning(dldeltacounty.com <br />874-2500 <br />From: Steve and Debbie Moms <br />20045 High Park Road <br />Cedaredge, CO 81413 <br />970-856-4000 <br />Re: Benson Brothers Quarry application <br />We believe the application for a quarry in Coalby Canyon needs to be denied. When we moved to Coaiby <br />26 years ago, the Red Canyon Coal mine was in minimal production. When it went back into full operation <br />there many close calls with the coal trucks hauling coat out of the mine. Eventually stop signs were <br />installed in both downhill directions but still trucks would drive faster than safe on the steep grades. Luckily <br />no one was hurt back then. Now that Coalby is more heavily populated, the risks are much greater. <br />Allowing a quany in this populated area is asking for a serious accident or fatality. <br />Then there is the aspect of noise. Most of the new comers don't real¢e how far noise travels up the <br />canyons and valleys of this agricultural and residential area. I was never so glad when the mine closed <br />down and we could actually enjoy the peace and quiet again. I don't know the decibel levels, but I know <br />from experience working around construction for thirty years that rods crushers and quarry operations are <br />much louder than working around a coal mine. When Red Canyon was in production, we could hear the <br />fans, heavy equipment, and backup horns from our home near the Coalby Domestic water tank. <br />We've lived here longer than most and have wtfnessed the rise in properly values and many new homes <br />built in this area and enjoy most of our new neighbors. However we were disturbed to hear that Peny Holtz <br />planned on putting a subdivision in our valley, but that pales to the impact of Benson's proposed quarry. <br />This area has been free of mining and industrial type operations for about twenty years. In the mean time <br />Coalby has become a favorite spot for expensive retirement homes. We now have loser neighbors and <br />we need to be considerate of their rights also. A quarry would affect the property rights of residents for <br />miles around and definitey lower the value of everyone's homes in our area. Would the lower property <br />values translate to bwer tax bills for all us affected? <br />We're also cancemed about the water table in our area. That was our biggest concern of a subdivision <br />that would use well water for crew residents. The water tables in our area have not been adequatey been <br />documented. When we got our well over ten years ago the Divisan of Water resources stated that the <br />sub-surface water in our area was already over adjudicated. A quarry that uses four to five thousand <br />gallons of water a day is going to impact someone else's water supply. <br />Lastly, there's the visual impact that a quarry will have. All you have to do is go one valley over to the East <br />on Green Valley Road to see the massive scare Benson's have left there. No one should be allowed to <br />make such a mess that affect neighbors for miles around. <br />Please deny this or any appligfion for industrial activities in the Cedaredge area <br />