Laserfiche WebLink
The impacts to the adjacent properties are very minimal, which can be attested to by <br />their very side-by-side existence for some fifty years. The mining operation does not <br />create dust because the mining activity is a hydraulic dredge operation. The South Platte <br />River and the owner's office and maintenance complex provides a buffer to the farming <br />operation to the north. To the east, the Rainbow Bridge and State Highway 52 provides a <br />buffer to the City Park. To the south, the evaporation ponds of the Western Sugar <br />Company, which are part of an industrial operation that employs Builders Aggregate <br />periodically to excavate the ponds as process water evaporates and the processing of <br />sugar beets leaves a residue. To the west, the nature area has benefited from the mining <br />operation because the actual mining activity uses approximately twenty acres out of a <br />possible eighty acres. Game animals migrate on and off the property to the nature area on <br />a consistent basis. The owners periodically allow individuals, during non-operating times, <br />access to the property to view game and birds that nest on the rest of the property. <br />FUTURE LAND USE: <br />It is the intent of the property owners to mine the property and to reclaim the mined <br />areas to industrial sites for various general contracting uses. Eventually, the sands and <br />gravels will no longer to profitably mined, the pond will filled in, the land leveled, and <br />the property will be used for the concrete business and general civil construction <br />company and a yard for construction equipment, storage, and maintenance. This process <br />will start after the mining has been completed. It is estimated that the operation will <br />continue for another twenty-five years on this site. <br />The buffer of land between the South Platte River and the completed mining <br />operation will remain untouched and will continue to provide a natural buffer to the river. <br />It is expected the river will flood and reclaim some of the property by meandering as it <br />has for years. <br />The Site will be completely graded to a gentle slope (1%) as indicated on the <br />Reclamation Map. This will provide positive runoff of the site and return the runoff to the <br />river. The buffer area adjacent to the river will be planted with a native grass material <br />proposed and approved by the County Extension Agent. This strip area will be <br />approximately 25-feet wide. The south boundary area will be graded to a 4 to 1 slope and <br />covered with riprap to protect the adjacent property owner and prevent any erosion that <br />may develop. <br />Amended April 2007