The Fremont County Commissioners voted unanimously to deny a zone change request for 60 acres along the east side of Four Mile Creek following a two hour public hearing. The proposed site is just east of Canon City on the north side of the Arkansas River. An overflow crowd of 130 people packed the Commissioners' meeting room as most assembled to protest the zone change and an accompanying application for a conditional use permit. Jim Javernick sought the zone change from Agricultural Rural to Agricultural Living to enable him to apply for a permit to operate a gravel pit and rock quarry. The Ag Rural zone prohibits such uses. Angela Bellantoni of Environmental Alternatives argued that the zone change would improve the agricultural quality and enhance wildlife habitat in the Four Mile area following the proposed 30 year life of the quarry. Neighboring property owner Ross Jeffrey argued that the ultimate use of the area would be industrial if the Commissioners approved the plan. As the Commissioners voted to deny the zone change, which effectively also killed the gravel pit permit application, Commissioner Ed Norden said he would like to believe that the Planning Commission and other citizens got things right when they adopted the current zoning for the Four Mile area back in the mid 1990's.
The Commissioners also voted to suspend the special review use permit for Top Rail Ranch Recreation Hunting Camp in the Tallahassee area northwest of Canon City. The board had tabled the matter last September until the February 12th meeting urging ranch owner Ron Walker to take the necessary steps to come into compliance regarding violations relating to building permits and a septic system. The permit covers Walker's private elk hunting ranch operations. The Commissioners noted that the Planning Department had received no communication from Walker over the past five months. The board asked that Walker be contacted one last time to attempt to resolve the issues. If Walker fails to do so the Commissioners set the matter to consider termination of the special review use permit at their March 25th meeting.
The Commissioners reappointed Mike Schnobrick to another three year term on the Fremont County Planning Commission and newly appointed Herm Lateer of Canon City to another Planning Commission seat. The board expressed gratitude to Chuck McIntyre for his twenty years of service on the commission. The Commissioners also appointed Rich Thatcher to a seat on the Board of Zoning Adjustment and named Tim Payne as an alternate board member.
In other business the Commissioners:
The Commissioners also voted to suspend the special review use permit for Top Rail Ranch Recreation Hunting Camp in the Tallahassee area northwest of Canon City. The board had tabled the matter last September until the February 12th meeting urging ranch owner Ron Walker to take the necessary steps to come into compliance regarding violations relating to building permits and a septic system. The permit covers Walker's private elk hunting ranch operations. The Commissioners noted that the Planning Department had received no communication from Walker over the past five months. The board asked that Walker be contacted one last time to attempt to resolve the issues. If Walker fails to do so the Commissioners set the matter to consider termination of the special review use permit at their March 25th meeting.
The Commissioners reappointed Mike Schnobrick to another three year term on the Fremont County Planning Commission and newly appointed Herm Lateer of Canon City to another Planning Commission seat. The board expressed gratitude to Chuck McIntyre for his twenty years of service on the commission. The Commissioners also appointed Rich Thatcher to a seat on the Board of Zoning Adjustment and named Tim Payne as an alternate board member.
In other business the Commissioners:
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Awarded the annual stationery bid to Rocky Mountain Print and Copy for $1,396;
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Approved a resolution increasing the county's mileage reimbursement rate in 2008 to 36 cents per mile when personal vehicles are used by employees;
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and Approved transfers of special review use permits for two wireless communication towers located near Highway 115 and 'K' street at Penrose and a half mile north of Florence along Highway 67 due to ownership changes.