CC Minutes - 12/12/06 Joint Elected Officials

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Dwyer indicated the staff report was provided at the November 1 meeting and staff from public agencies were allowed to testify. He said that staff have provided a supplemental packet of materials that have been received since the November 1 meeting. Mayor Piercy opened the Public Hearing for the City of Eugene. Commissioner Dwyer opened the Public Hearing for the Board of Commissioners. Steve Cornacchia, Eugene, spoke, representing the applicant. He reported that Delta Sand and Gravel have determined that they have approximately 10 years’ inventory of aggregate material at the current site. He added at its current rate of production, they anticipate that in 10 years if not more is added to the site, it will mean the end of Delta Sand and Gravel. He said the company had also determined that, with the exception area, the addition of the 74 acres of the expansion area will extend the life of the company for an additional 15 years. He said the one issue the Eugene Planning Commission did not find in their favor was dust. He said they don’t create dust at the mining operation, but at the crusher at the far extreme corner of the property against the river and Beltline. Cornacchia commented that the neighbors in the area of the gravel pit are convinced Delta Sand and Gravel would make their lives miserable if the application is approved. He said they know they could mine the area without a negative impact on the neighbors. He said they have been mining for 40 years. He noted there are homes across from the gravel pit and they dug across the street from the people within the last 15 years without any issues with LRAPA or any regulator agency. He added they received no complaints. He said that was a demonstration of the commitment the company has to being a good steward, professional and ethical in the treatment of the land, and treatment and interface with its neighbors. Cornacchia recalled in 1996 LCDC went through a process where they established new rules for the Goal 5 resource. He indicated those rules were a direct result of continual arguments and opposition whenever there was an aggregate facility proposed for establishment or expansion. He said people believe it is impossible to have this type of operation and a livable community next door. He said they have been doing it for 40 years and the manner in which they have been doing it rendered a positive product to the community. He said there was a lack of negative impact on existing neighbors. He said the process for this has taken a year and there have been no complaints or issues with LRAPA. He said what is most important for the criteria of the Goal 5 Rule is the definition of minimization of conflicts. Cornacchia explained what they are required to do is to demonstrate there is an adequate and significant resource. He said they are required to identify an impact area within which potential conflicts could be identified. He said they have done that. He said they are to identify the potential impacts that will be within the area. He added following that, they need to demonstrate how those potential impacts will be minimized. He said if they have done that, the rules state the elected officials shall approve if they make an affirmative decision. He said the rules provide a tool to use throughout the consideration Page 2 – Joint Elected Officials' Meeting – December 12, 2006 WD bc/m/06121/T