The Gilpin County Planning Commission, after much fact-finding and soul-searching, finally accepted and gave their recommendation on Tuesday, March 12th, for a controversial local project to be forwarded on to the Board of County Commissioners for ultimate approval or denial.

Two adjacent parcels of land, totaling nearly 40 acres and located near the junction of County Road 11 and Highway 72, are currently owned by Dirk Larsen, who wishes to reclaim the site to restore wetlands, and to eventually establish an exclusive fly-fishing sportmen's club.  The rub is that he intends to finance the project by extracting and selling the gravel that litters the property, remains of a two-year dredging effort that occurred in the late 1930s.  The land and wildlife habitat, adversely affected by the dredging, has recovered somewhat from the negative impact, but still is scarred and needs restoration.  The gravel removal will only affect about 9.75 acres of the property.

The Planning Commission's 4-to-2 acceptance of the project was unpopular among many of the nearby Lincoln Hills and Pactolus Acres residents, who justifiably fear impact on their quiet and peaceful living.  Many voiced dismay over the recommendation for Larsen's project to continue its movement toward approval by the County Commissioners, and some even commented that
they felt betrayed by the Planning Commission.  The Planning Commission in turn, although understanding the concerns of the residents, felt a similar reaction to their failure to grasp the reasoning behind the decision.  The Planning Commission, contrary to what the residents seem to believe, had given an intent and careful ear to their complaints and issues, identifying with many of them and feeling similar concerns.  The Planning Commission members had reached their decision only after determining that such a wetlands restoration would be of overall benefit to the county.  When issues such as this one are under consideration, with considerable merit on both sides, decisions are difficult to reach.

To ensure that Larsen's project would be properly completed, and to mitigate the impacts upon nearby residential areas, a variety
of stringent conditions to be met were put in place.  These included a reclamation plan of five stages in the project,  where only a two-acre portion could be in the gravel-extraction process at any given time, and that area would have to be restored to viable wetlands before work on the next two-acre portion could be commenced.  Each cycle would have to be completed within 180 days (with allowances for planting season).  Trucks hauling the gravel would not be allowed to use County Road 11 as a transportation route beyond the entrance to the property, and could only operate within certain stated hours, with a limitation of three one truck/one direction trips per hour as a maximum.  Acceptable noise levels could not be exceeded; dust levels would have to be minimized; surface disturbance would be confined to areas containing gravel deposits resulting from past mining activities so that surface areas previously undisturbed would remain that way.  Bonds would be required to ensure completion of the project.  Heavy equipment,  any required building materials, and rock-sorting activity would have to be screened from public view.  A three- person conflict resolution board would be formed, consisting of the property owner, the county planner and a member of the Pactolus neighborhood association, to work out any resulting issues.  A conservation easement would be granted to Gilpin County that would specifically prohibit any further removal of gravel or sand beyond that allowed by this PUD project, a valuable protection for all the reclaimed areas from any future disturbance.

It is a common attitude for folks who have settled here in Gilpin County (old and new residents alike) to want to close the door on anything that, in their perception, might threaten their enjoyment of their surroundings.  Such feelings are understandable but also
unrealistic.  Change is inevitable.  The challenge is to make that evolvement favorable.  While the neighborhood residents of Lincoln Hills and Pactolus Acres are, unfortunately, having to strugge with this issue, it is hoped that they will be able to see the prospect of ultimate good from this project  -- for them and for Gilpin County.
 
 
 
 

Photo to accompany article at:
http://www.bohnrealestate.com/pactolusBack.htm