Routt County Planning Commission recommends approval of United Companies gravel pit expansion near Hayden

The Routt County Planning Commission on April 16, 2026 voted 7-0 to recommend approval of a special use permit and a waterbody crossing permit that would allow United Companies (Oldcastle SW Group, Inc.) to expand the Camilletti Hayden gravel pit onto Pod 3 of the CWH Properties parcel south of U.S. 40.

Staff and the applicant described the proposal as a lateral expansion that will keep asphalt and concrete processing in the existing Pod 1 while moving mining operations into Pod 3. Ben Langenfeld of Lewicki & Associates told commissioners the expansion would add roughly 57 acres to the permit boundary with a maximum of 50 acres disturbed at any one time and that production is expected to remain in line with past levels: about 150,000 tons per year. Michael Fitz, Routt County staff planner, said the current disturbance is approximately 40 acres and that processing and stockpiling would continue in Pod 1.

The application includes a Variance request from the Unified Development Code (UDC) requirement for a wildlife mitigation plan; staff said Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) reviewed the site and concluded mapped high-priority habitat did not reflect current on-the-ground conditions. Fitz told the commission that, based on CPW’s field assessment, staff supports allowing a Variance or a CPW finding in lieu of a full mitigation plan on this site. The applicant said on-site inspection found no threatened or endangered species or raptor nests and described mitigation measures and concurrent reclamation intended to return the land to a condition similar to its current state after mining ends.

Fitz also described the proposed internal connector road between Pod 1 and Pod 3, noting it will cross drainages and require culverts and a waterbody crossing permit; the plan estimates less than 0.1 acre of wetlands would be disturbed and proposes creating 0.09 acres of wetlands adjacent to one culvert to replace about 0.07 acres lost to road construction. The applicant indicated an Army Corps of Engineers nationwide wetlands permit application is ready to be submitted.

As part of meeting the UDC public-benefit requirement, the applicant has an agreement with the Town of Hayden to provide construction support, materials and services for town projects. Commissioners and staff acknowledged that the agreement does not yet specify a dollar value or precise quantity of materials; Fitz said the applicant must provide ongoing reporting quantifying the contribution during the 10-year permit period and that the benefit will be assessed when the permit expires. Commissioner David Hoffman expressed concern about approving a public benefit without a quantified value or timeline; staff responded that periodic reporting will be required and the contribution will be evaluated at the permit review.

The motion to recommend approval (PL20250060 and PL20250069), moved by Commissioner Bill Norris and seconded by Commissioner Linda Miller, included six findings of fact and multiple conditions of approval. Key conditions in the commission’s recommendation include: a 10-year special use permit term tied to the Board of County Commissioners’ approval date (the minutes specify an expiration date of 4/28/2036), a limit of 150,000 tons removed in any 12-month period (with any increase requiring an amended permit), a maximum of 50 acres disturbed at one time, dust-control and stabilization measures for haul roads, compliance with state noise standards (C.R.S. 25-12-101), and compliance with the terms of any Nationwide Army Corps of Engineers permit for wetland impacts. The recommendation also requires evidence of liability insurance and annual permit fees per county schedule.

The Planning Commission carried the recommendation 7-0. The minutes record the motion as a recommendation; the permit conditions reference the Board of County Commissioners’ approval date for calculating the permit term. Planning Director Kristy Winser also noted that any complaints about operations could trigger review, amendment, or revocation of the special use permit. The minutes record no public comment on the item.

The commission’s administrator’s report noted a land-use training with attorney Jerry Dahl scheduled for May 21 and a separate item in which the Oak Creek Planning Commission recommended approval of the Oak Creek Community Plan. The meeting adjourned at 7:15 p.m.