2011-10-18_REVISION - M1981185 - Laserfiche WebLink

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MAY 20, 2011 MAY DAY MINE — V; \RIANCI. REQUEST SuBMITF: \L REVIEW' P.\c,): 2 OF 4 It is understood the applicant intends to have a base of operation near CR 124 that will limit employee use of the access road, but no information has been provided about the base of operation, including its location. Moreover, no alternative plans have been provided for either a mine rescue team that will take fire district trucks off the road or for a mine site sanitary system that will take commercial sanitary pumping trucks off the road. These details are needed in order to evaluate the road for more limited uses. The ability of these trucks to handle 15% grades with hairpin curves is not likely and has not been demonstrated. A variance request is premature until these issues have been addressed. Further, the applicant is reminded that county road standards are rarely granted variances. In this case, staff support of a variance is dependent upon Division Reclamation of Mining and Safety (DRMS) approval of the access road. DRMS has standards relevant to mine sites, and county support of a variance is based, in part, on DRMS' application of those standards. Understanding the applicant does not want to get caught in a chicken - and -egg scenario, county staff has verified that DRMS may approve a project prior to the project being approved by the County. DRMS requires that projects are in compliance with local regulations, but it does not require that a county permit be in place prior to state approval. Thus, the access road, as stated in the March 24, 2011 letter must be approved by the State before county staff will support a variance to county road standards in favor of the more relevant state mining standards. II. County Road Standards from which a Variance is Needed County road standards are based on the amount of traffic projected for the road. Assuming the Average Daily Trips (ADTs) would be greater than 24 (ie: 12 trip arrivals at the mine site per day), county code would require a surface width of 18 feet and a maximum grade of 10 %. County allows lesser standards if projected ADTs are less than 24 and the road is serving a single lot. In this case, a 12 foot wide surface with 8 foot wide pullouts every 400 feet would be acceptable. The maximum grade would be 12 %. The fire department may need pullouts at more frequent intervals due to road alignment and lack of visibility around frequent curves (particularly on east side of river). Either set of standards will apply to entire access road — from CR 124 to the mill site — including the new access road and the historic portion of the access road. Assuming that a portion of the access road will be greater than 12% and pullouts every 400 feet are not feasible, neither of the above standards will be met. From planning engineering's perspective, the standard used (18 foot at 10% or 12 foot at 12% with pullouts) will not affect staff's support for a variance. Staff intends to support a variance request from either set of standards once the applicant provides the four items outlined in the March 24. 2011 letter, with further details and guidance as provided below. HI. Construction Plan Comments Construction plan comments are limited in scope as intended uses of the road have not yet been identified; construction plan supporting documents have not been provided; and the alignment, grades, and widths of the historic portion of the road east have not been shown. Based on a preliminary review of the construction plans, the following comments are offered: 1. The plans need to identify the intended vehicles and loads for which the road is designed. 2. The plans need to show existing land features and existing and proposed improvements. This includes limits of wetlands area, location and facilities on the proposed base of operations. Wetlands should be shown on each plan and profile sheet where wetlands occur. PLANNING DI:P \RTmIENT • 970.382.6263. • 1060 E. 2ND _Ayr.. • DURANGO, COLORADO • 81301