Ward gets initial approval on land use change for gravel pit

Paul Ward came before the Hot Springs County Planning Commission last week with a request to change a portion of his property from agricultural to industrial.

Ward would like to take approximately 14 acres of his land above the irrigation ditch and create a gravel pit.

The area in question is something of a hill, approximately 20 to 30 feet above the ditch, and Ward intends to basically level out the land, removing the gravel in the process.

He told the board he had been approached by an oil company that will soon be drilling wells in the area and are in need of the gravel for base around the rigs and to gravel the roads leading to and from them.

Ward said there will be no crushing going on in the area, it will be simply removing the raw material.

Initially, county planner Bo Bowman had placed nine conditions on the land use change however the board reduced the conditions to just five.

A weed management plan must be in place.

Reclamation of the property must be done as soon as possible after the closing of the pit.

The land use change is for a commercial gravel permit only.

All necessary permits must be obtained from the DEQ and other agencies before starting work.

If the gravel will be moved over surrounding BLM land the proper approval from the agency must be obtained first.

Ward assured the board he intends to return the land to its original agricultural state once the pit has been closed.

The board unanimously approved the requested land use change.

It will now appear before the county commissioners at their Aug. 4 meeting at 11:30 a.m.