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25 May 1999 Division of Minerals and Geology 1313 Sherman St, Room 215 Denver, CO 80203 Deaz Sir; II~IIIII~~IIIIIIIII DECEIVED MAY 2 7 1999 vision of Minerab & Geology I would like to express great concern over the proposal to expand the Dellacroce gravel pit west of the I-25 and Baptist Road intersection in El Paso County. I ask the your planning division to deny the requested amendment to M 93-050. As a homeowner in the area of the gravel pit, I see the following negative impacts that concern me and should concern the State of Colorado and El Paso County Planners. 1, Negative Visua] Impact: There is a good reason that Douglas County has barred pit operadons. In a county already marred by two major gravel mining projects, the State of Colorado and EI Paso County planners should be alarmed at the proposal to expand this mine. Many local residents believe the visual impact of the existing mine has been greater than originally promised by the owners. The project is currently cleazly visible by I-25 traffic, which includes many visitors to our state. This clear view of the excavation will only worse if the application is approved. While commitments for the original excavaton included reclamation at the completion of each phase, there has been no evidence that any has or will take place, and a new permanent scaz is in the making. 2. Decrease in property values: The mining operation will definitely decrease property values not only for the residents in our area, but also for the newly proposed Forest Lakes LLC development. The ten-fold expansion in land area and the six-fold increase in the excavation would be very noticeable. 3. Adverse Impact on Traffic Safety: Ina 1994 meeting before homeowners, the gravel pit owners stated that 6-10 trucks per day would be used to remove gravel over a 10- yeazperiod. The reality has been that on most working days 30 to 40 tnickloads travel Baptist Road. This is a significant safety factor on a road that is projected to have 8,000 more private vehicles a day when an adjacent development is completed. That projection does not include a more significant increase as a new road from the town of Monttnrerrt to Baptist Road is finished and another new development begins adjacent to the Dellacroce property. In addition, this new proposal includes the addition of a second access road from the western end of the pit onto Hay Creek Road, the only access road to our subdivisions. While the current situation is difficult for local residents at the intersecrion of Hay Creek and Baptist Roads, this new access would be intolerably unsafe. 4. Increase in Noise Pollution: Currently, noise from the pit operations (trucks, tractors, reversing beepers, etc.) can be heard on a daily basis by the closest neighbors. On some days, when wind and atmospheric conditions permit, these disrupting noises can be heard throughout the area--an area which is increasingly populated. The proposed projec[ will not only extend the duration of this disturbance, but will increase it. In summary, I do not believe that the approval of the huge expansion of the Dellacroce gravel pit mining operation is in the best interests of the State of Colorado. Request you deny the amendment. Sincerely (oit~~ ~-CJV~-~t/ ~~s