Planning commission approves conditional use amendment to expand soil-processing site and add contractor yard

The Eastern Summit County Planning Commission approved an amendment to a conditional use permit allowing Broadband and Construction Materials LLC / Patino Construction And Excavation LLC to expand a soil-processing operation and add a contractor yard and rental pads.

Staff member Amir described the request as "a request to amend a conditional use permit as we mentioned, to expand the existing operation and to add a contractor yard to be rented out to various contractors in the area," and told commissioners the applicant's plans show a two-acre site that could expand in the future only if the county code changes and the applicant returns for a separate amendment. Amir said the original permit was approved in 2016 and that stormwater review delayed the recent amendment process.

Staff emphasized site conditions and recommended approval with conditions listed in the staff report. "We went on the site, Ray and I, it was one of the cleanest sites we've ever been to as far away," Amir said, describing the property as primarily "grub, dirt, rocks" with minimal trash. He noted proposed controls for steep slopes and that the applicant had added a stop-work line for areas over 30 percent slope.

Commissioners asked for clarification on the 2016 limits and the current request. Staff said the 2016 acreage limit matched the site plan submitted at that time and was not separately imposed by the commission. Commissioners also asked about hours of operation; staff said hours for rental pads were extended in the proposal to 9 p.m. "We extended the hours to 9PM for anybody that might need that," Amir said, while noting typical local operations begin early in the morning. The record does not show any change to other daily-hour limits beyond the rental-pad language.

Lighting and enforcement were discussed. Staff said there are only two fixed lights for emergency repairs and that lighting for rental pads was not proposed. The applicant's representative told the commission they have "now 6 cameras installed. We have 8 more that, we plan on installing, that are, 12 cams" and that cameras are solar-powered. Helen (staff) said enforcement access had been offered: "the owner has volunteered to give us auto enforcement access to those cameras."

Chair Jim opened the public hearing; no members of the public came forward. A commissioner moved to approve the conditional use permit amendment with the findings, conclusions and conditions in the staff report; another commissioner seconded. Commissioners voted in favor and the chair announced the motion carried.

The staff report specifies conditions and mitigation measures; the motion and minutes indicate approval under those terms. The transcript does not specify an effective date, final permit language or an explicit tally by name. The commission did not record any public testimony opposing the amendment during the hearing.