Document text
Neighbors dig in against gravel pit Photo by Jim Craven Pat Lockheed, who lives near the site of a proposed gravel pit on Dead Indian Memorial Road, raised concerns about traffic and noise at Tuesday morning�s meeting of the Jackson County commissioners. Traffic, noise, dust cited as objections to site near Ashland By Dani Dodge A half-dozen residents of Dead Indian Memorial Road protested a proposed gravel mining site at a county public hearing Tuesday. "I sort of feel like David and Goliath without the slingshot," said Pat Lockheed, who lives near the proposed aggregate site, that about five miles east of Ashland. "What I�m upset about is adding more trucks to the road. I�m not happy about a lot of dust and noise." The commissioners were reviewing five possible aggregate sites on Joe Dauenhauer�s property off of Dead Indian Memorial Road. County commissioners had agreed to put the property on the county�s aggregate resource inventory, but neighbors opposed to the move registered their objections with the state�s Land Conservation and Development board. On May 11, the DLCD remanded the decision back to the county asking it to resolve issues of deer and fish habitat; boundaries; a nearby gas transmission line, and other potential conflicts. The commissioners listened to both sides of the issue Tuesday and closed the public hearing. They will discuss the application at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, July 11. The application is one of the last three being reviewed by the county as it updates is aggregate inventory, a state requirement. The county began updating its aggregate inventory in 1993. Commissioners have considered nearly 20 sites, said Laurel Prairie-Kuntz, the county�s comprehensive planning manager. All but three have been approved or denied at this point, she said. Of those still in the pipeline, one is on Highway 62 north of Butte Falls Highway; and the other is on the Josephine County line, just north of Interstate-5. The board will review findings rejecting aggregates in those areas in June and July. "In both cases, the properties are being put on the county�s aggregate inventory, but commissioners did not rezone the property,�� Prairie-Kuntz said. ��(The property owners) could still could apply for conditional use permits.�� People who object to the proposal on the Dauenhauer property said the mining will create problems for wildlife, including Coho salmon and Steelhead in Walker Creek. They fear an increase of phosphorus in the water as well as higher water temperatures. "Turbidity in Walker Creek could impact drinking water in Talent," added John Ward, speaking for Friends of the Greensprings. Others complained about the danger of a nearby gas line, and the big trucks on the winding, sometimes sliding Dead Indian Memorial Road. Mike LaNier, who was representing the applicant, said Dauenhauer would forego one of the proposed sites closest to Walker Creek to protect fish and water. He also said the trucks wouldn�t be putting the road over its traffic capacity. He said he didn�t expect more than one truck per hour from the site. LaNier said the land being proposed for aggregate mining is useless for farming but perfect for mining. "There are areas that cannot be grazed, because they are rock outcroppings,�� LaNier said. "The rock removal is limited to those outcroppings.�� Today's Edition : News | Sports | Business | Weather | Tempo | Classifieds Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 2000, Medford, Oregon USA