[Vision2020] Strip Mining on Flannigan Creek Road
Don Lazzarini
dlazz@sub.uidaho.edu
Tue, 20 Jan 2004 12:20:28 -0800
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Visionaries,
=20
I find myself in the unenviable position of trying to defend my home and
its quiet solitude from an application for a CUP (conditional use
permit) to create a gravel mining and crushing operation on the hill
across from my residence located approx 4 miles south of Highway 6 on
Flannigan Creek Road.
=20
The current process allows the applicant as much time as they desire to
gather as much information as they need (evidence exists the applicant
began their work on the project over a year ago). After they gather what
they believe they need, including allies within the Highway District
they pay a permit application fee which brings the issue before the
Planning and Zoning Commission. Those of us who live next to the
proposed blast zone are notified of a hearing date a few weeks in
advance of the hearing. Working full time and trying to become
knowledgeable enough in Strip Mining, County Policy and Procedures and
how to defend property and family against such an unwelcome industrial
intrusion in such a short period of time is not unlike playing cards
against a stacked deck. It is even more difficult to gather hard
evidence of various aspects of such mining operations due to snow and
other weather variables predictable this time of the year. The County
does not have a history of denying strip mining permits or in seeing
their role as advocates for people whose lives will be impacted by their
allowing the applicant to get a Conditional Use Permit.
=20
The Planning and Zoning Commission made a finding of fact that the
proposed project will negatively impact our property value. They
believed they mitigated the process by time limiting the crushing
operation to 6 years. In effect, they have dictated the length of time I
must remain in my residence next to a industrial mining operation that
creates a noise level 6X as loud as the natural level of sound found in
the little valley. I don't share their view.
=20
I have been told that most of Latah County sits on basalt (the material
that is to be strip mined). What this means is that most houses in this
county sit on or near this material so in theory are at risk. The only
process that currently exists to protect homeowners from a strip mine
going in next to their house is the Conditional Use Permit process and
the County Commissioners application of existing rules and guidelines.
What I have observed so far does not encourage me to believe this
process has functioned to protect most home and property owners. Imagine
you or someone you care about being thrust into the position of having
their dream home turned into an undesirable and uncomfortable home by
the economic draw of a rock crushing operation. The application was
approved by the Planning and Zoning commission with some conditions.
There will be a second hearing before the County Commissioners on Feb
11, 2004 at 3:00 pm.=20
=20
I am hoping to interest others in joining me in trying to stop both this
application and to encourage the County Commissioners to use their
considerable power and influence to engage in a proactive planning
operation to find and set aside suitable land for such mining operations
away from existing residences. Through zoning and cooperative projects
it would be possible to protect existing family structures and future
dream homes from suddenly being devalued by the Highway Districts desire
for another and closer gravel pit. With operations as damaging as these
it is better to work out a long term solution that protects the harmony
and goodwill of the people of a community, so they may rely on the
quality of life that choosing certain home sites and areas can be
reasonably expected to bring.=20
=20
Any knowledge, expertise or solid advice would be sincerely appreciated.
=20
=20
Don Lazzarini
dlazz@uidaho.edu
=20
=20
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<DIV><!--mail_content--><SPAN id=3Dhotbar_element_used =
stationery_tag_mark><SPAN=20
class=3D528001119-20012004>Visionaries,</SPAN></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN stationery_tag_mark><SPAN=20
class=3D528001119-20012004></SPAN></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN stationery_tag_mark><SPAN class=3D528001119-20012004>I find =
myself in=20
the unenviable position of trying to defend my home and its quiet =
solitude from=20
an application for a CUP (conditional use permit) to create a gravel =
mining and=20
crushing operation on the hill across from my residence located approx 4 =
miles=20
south of Highway 6 on Flannigan Creek Road.</SPAN></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN stationery_tag_mark><SPAN=20
class=3D528001119-20012004></SPAN></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN stationery_tag_mark><SPAN class=3D528001119-20012004>The =
current=20
process allows the applicant as much time as they desire to gather as =
much=20
information as they need (evidence exists the applicant began their work =
on the=20
project over a year ago). After they gather what they believe they need, =
including allies within the Highway District they pay a permit =
application fee=20
which brings the issue before the Planning and Zoning Commission. Those =
of us=20
who live next to the proposed blast zone are notified of a hearing date =
a few=20
weeks in advance of the hearing. Working full time and trying to become=20
knowledgeable enough in Strip Mining, County Policy and Procedures and =
how to=20
defend property and family against such an unwelcome industrial =
intrusion in=20
such a short period of time is not unlike playing cards against a =
stacked deck.=20
It is even more difficult to gather hard evidence of various aspects of =
such=20
mining operations due to snow and other weather variables predictable =
this time=20
of the year. The County does not have a history of denying strip mining =
permits=20
or in seeing their role as advocates for people whose lives will be =
impacted by=20
their allowing the applicant to get a Conditional Use=20
Permit.</SPAN></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN stationery_tag_mark><SPAN=20
class=3D528001119-20012004></SPAN></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN stationery_tag_mark><SPAN class=3D528001119-20012004>The =
Planning and=20
Zoning Commission made a finding of fact that the proposed project will=20
negatively impact our property value. They believed they mitigated the =
process=20
by time limiting the crushing operation to 6 years. In effect, they have =
dictated the length of time I must remain in my residence next to a =
industrial=20
mining operation that creates a noise level 6X as loud as the natural =
level of=20
sound found in the little valley. I don't share their =
view.</SPAN></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN stationery_tag_mark><SPAN=20
class=3D528001119-20012004></SPAN></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN stationery_tag_mark><SPAN class=3D528001119-20012004>I have =
been told=20
that most of Latah County sits on basalt (the material that is to be =
strip=20
mined). What this means is that most houses in this county sit on or =
near this=20
material so in theory are at risk. The only process that currently =
exists to=20
protect homeowners from a strip mine going in next to their house is the =
Conditional Use Permit process and the County Commissioners application =
of=20
existing rules and guidelines. What I have observed so far does not =
encourage me=20
to believe this process has functioned to protect most home and property =
owners.=20
Imagine you or someone you care about being thrust into the position of =
having=20
their dream home turned into an undesirable and uncomfortable home by =
the=20
economic draw of a rock crushing operation. The application was approved =
by the=20
Planning and Zoning commission with some conditions. There will be a =
second=20
hearing before the County Commissioners on Feb 11, 2004 at 3:00 pm.=20
</SPAN></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN stationery_tag_mark><SPAN=20
class=3D528001119-20012004></SPAN></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN stationery_tag_mark><SPAN class=3D528001119-20012004>I am =
hoping to=20
interest others in joining me in trying to stop both this application =
and to=20
encourage the County Commissioners to use their considerable power and =
influence=20
to engage in a proactive planning operation to find and set aside =
suitable land=20
for such mining operations away from existing residences. Through zoning =
and=20
cooperative projects it would be possible to protect existing family =
structures=20
and future dream homes from suddenly being devalued by the Highway =
Districts=20
desire for another and closer gravel pit. With operations as damaging as =
these=20
it is better to work out a long term solution that protects the harmony =
and=20
goodwill of the people of a community, so they may rely on the quality =
of life=20
that choosing certain home sites and areas can be reasonably expected to =
bring.=20
</SPAN></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN stationery_tag_mark><SPAN=20
class=3D528001119-20012004></SPAN></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN stationery_tag_mark><SPAN class=3D528001119-20012004>Any =
knowledge,=20
expertise or solid advice would be sincerely =
appreciated.</SPAN></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN stationery_tag_mark><SPAN=20
class=3D528001119-20012004></SPAN></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN stationery_tag_mark><SPAN=20
class=3D528001119-20012004></SPAN></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN stationery_tag_mark><SPAN class=3D528001119-20012004>Don=20
Lazzarini</SPAN></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN stationery_tag_mark><SPAN class=3D528001119-20012004><A=20
href=3D"mailto:dlazz@uidaho.edu">dlazz@uidaho.edu</A></SPAN></SPAN></DIV>=
<DIV><SPAN stationery_tag_mark><SPAN=20
class=3D528001119-20012004></SPAN></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN stationery_tag_mark><SPAN=20
class=3D528001119-20012004></SPAN></SPAN> </DIV></BODY></HTML>
=00
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