Steamboat Pilot & Today

Routt County — Two gravel pit proposals will be reviewed at the Routt County Planning Commission meeting tonight.
Jarle Halsnes, representing the Steamboat Gravel Co., will go through a preapplication process.
That means the Halsnes will receive some direction from commissioners on what they think the company should do when it officially applies for a permit to mine gravel.
The proposed Steamboat Gravel Co. mine would involve a 102-acre pit that could produce up to 8.5 million tons of gravel. Twenty acres of land are expected to be disturbed at one time and the company has plans for reclamation of the entire site.
It would be located on the More Ranch, east of where Colorado 131 crosses the Yampa River.
If the company officially applies, its pit, which would be owned by More Family Ranches LLC, will be the second such mine proposed for the south valley floor this summer.
Lafarge Corp. received a recommendation of approval from the Planning Commission last month for its application to open a gravel pit on Fran Werner's land, on the west side of Colo. 131 near U.S. 40. The approval recommendation came under a condition that the company closes and begins reclaiming its other two mines in the same area.
Lafarge will go in front of Routt County Board of Commissioners on Aug. 10 to seek final approval for the mine.
The county Planning Commission's decision on the Lafarge pit didn't come without opposition from surrounding land owners, who claimed that another mine in the same area would go against various local development plans because of visibility.
"I think we're going to get some comments about this," county planner Alison Willets said of the More pit.
She said the visibility of the pit could be an issue for some of the residents in the area.
However, Steamboat Gravel Co. has been working with its neighbors to try to reduce the visual impact.
"I think if they landscape it right, that it won't be bad," Willets said.
Also on tonight's agenda is a request to amend a special use permit to expand the south end of the Jocko Camilletti pit by 11 acres.
That would make the pit 21 acres wide, Willets said.
If approved by the county, the expansion would extend the life of the pit until 2010, with reclamation ending a year later. If it isn't approved, the pit would be closed and reclaimed this year.
The pit is located south of Hayden near the Yampa Valley Regional Airport. There hasn't been any opposition to the proposal, Willets said.
"It's out there near the airport, so nobody has to look at it," she said.
The meeting starts at 7 p.m., Thursday in the courthouse annex hearing room, 136 Sixth St.

To reach Doug Crowl call 871-4206 or e-mail dcrowl@amigo.net