FAQs
Where is the gravel mine located?
A gravel mine was permitted by Boulder County in 2002 to mine a 295.6-acre parcel of land south of Hwy 119, west of 119th Street, north of Quail Road and east of Costco.
When was the gravel mine approved?
The permit was approved and signed in 2003 under a development agreement with Boulder County, which gave them a vested property right for the gravel mining.
The property owner submitted an application for annexation into the City in 2015 and desired to maintain their gravel mining permit. They requested approval of a PUD Plan, which mirrored the mining plan and conditions of approval as set forth in Boulder County. The PUD Plan was amended in 2022 to reflect changes to the Irwin Thomas site as a result of the Costco development.
Was there a public notification process?
A neighborhood meeting was held in January 2016 and public hearings were held with Planning & Zoning Commission in January 2017 and City Council in September 2017. Notification to all property owners within a 1,000-foot radius was mailed out and signs were posted on the property. The developers of the housing projects in Harvest Junction Village were also notified of the neighborhood meetings and public hearings.
There is no public input/community involvement at this time. Concerns may be stated and staff are available to answer questions, but final plans have been approved.
Are there any protections for nearby residents?
The PUD Plan contains a page dedicated to conditions of approval related to traffic, noise, dust, lighting, etc.
One of the conditions of the PUD was that they are required to construct a berm wall on the west and south sides of the property to provide a protective barrier/buffer from the adjacent land uses. A detail sheet for the berm can be found on the right side of the map. No mining operations can commence until the berms are constructed.
Can I see a copy of the approved plan?
A PUD Amendment was approved by City Council in January 2022 modifying the mining area to accommodate for the Costco development. The most recent approved modification is available to view on the Irwin Thomas Gravel Mine webpage, in addition to historical information about the PUD proposal.
Can you tell me more about the mining process?
The mining process can take up to 10 years and the length of time depends on a number of factors, including market conditions/demand and when they start mining, according to the Holcim Group.
The mining pods will be mined consecutively. Only one pod, or portions of two pods, and the processing site are disturbed during any phase of mining.