Bannock County panel denies conditional use permit for Downey gravel pit

The Bannock County Planning and Development Council denied a conditional use permit for a proposed rock-and-sand mining operation at 1405 East Richards Road in Downey, voting 4-0 with one member recused. The applicant, Richard Jessup, had sought permission for screening of native gravel on up to a 10-acre area with proposed hours of 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday.

The council’s decision followed more than two hours of testimony from neighbors and staff about noise, dust, roadway safety, property values and missing state approvals. The denial reflects the council’s finding that the proposed gravel pit would produce materially greater noise, dust and traffic than permitted uses in the agricultural zoning district and that public-health and safety impacts outweighed the applicant’s case.

The proposal would have allowed screening of native material, with the application estimating as many as 20 one-way vehicle trips per day as a maximum and four employees. Jessup told the council the site currently has a well shown on his plans and gave water-flow figures: a domestic well…