REV00326 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

FOR ~1GF?JI III IIIIIIIIIIIII'll UGN 9 ass TTTL.E: SIYkIE Quarries in d4asonville Areas RY~'IfJESP: Spacial Review approval for s'x quarries in the FA-1 Farming zoning districts. vice L4. d Carter Lake stcne d 0-~,~en BAC[:GROUND: Beginning in 1382, stone quarries were operated along t}Ze ridge ich is west of County Road 27 (?4asonville Road), between ?~sonville and the B' q Thc{rmso~ River. According to an article in the Loveland Daily Reporter He old (pages 15-16 ), railroad lines hauled materials fran the sit to Fort Collins and Loveland; over 200 workers were emnloved at various t' .es, and improvements included bunkhouses, stockman, and dining hall. The large scale quarry operations declined when croncrete became re prevalent for construction purposes. However, information provided by the pplicants suggests sane of the smaller quarries have been operated ~rore or ess continuously for over 100 years. Others have operated interni*_te tly. The quarries in tl:e Carter L.al:e area date lxnc?: to at least 1959. Prior to 197;, Quarries and mines were Permitted without Comity a prow.,-.~l in the FA-1 and Open Zoning Districts. After 1973, Special Revie~.; appro al w~,s necessary for any cuarries which expanded or began operation in a ne•.a area. As residential develop.-nent has increased in this area in recent y ors, so have the cacg~laints regarding the quarry operations. (Residents rate the quarries have been expanded and, therefore, are not legal non-conf rminc uses (i.e. "grandfathered"). There is no doubt that quarries have exi red in the area for many years, but it is very difficult to determine whethe specific sites are still operating at the same historic rate and within th same boundaries as pre-1973. The Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Board has no provisions for randfathered" quarries, and all active quarries must have State mining permits. The State Board recently closed down all of the Masonville area quarries, ordered them to obtain State permits prior to further operation. One of e permit requirements is approval by the County. The mine operators are refore requesting Special Review approval by the County, in order to con inue operating and to identify future expansion areas. One of the primary functions of the State Mined Lind Reclamation ivision is to assure adequate reclamation of the site. That agency determines at procedures are necessary to reclaim the site, and requires that t applicant sutrnit a financial warranty in an airount determined by the Mined d Reclamation Board (NLRB). If the reclamation is not acearq~lished s rejuired, t}~e NLRB will use the financial ~•rarranty to reclaim the site. Are residents who are concerned about the reclamation of the land should contact the '~^_.RE or attend their Public hearings on each request. LARIMER COUNTY sue.iecr PLANNING STAFF REPORT IiCC 3/24/8ti LCPZ- 2 (1-a,C)