Surface mine, batch plant proposed

SANDPOINT — A proposed gravel pit north of Colburn and a temporary asphalt batch plant proposal in Sagle are encountering smooth sailing.

The projects have attracted no public comments as they head into separate public hearings this month, according to staff reports prepared by the Bonner County Planning Department.

County commissioners are scheduled to take up a special use permit request for an asphalt batch plant at 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday. The hearing is being conducted at the Panhandle Health District conference facility at 322 South Marion Ave.

The planning commission is set to consider a conditional use permit for a surface mine and rock crushing operation at 5 p.m. on Thursday at the Bonner County Administration Building.

Frank Linscott is seeking approval to use a portable asphalt batch plant at an existing gravel pit from June 17 to Aug. 31.

Hours of operation would be from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday.

The plant would be capable of producing up to 100 truckloads per day.

Woods Crushing & Hauling, meanwhile, seeks to develop a surface mine on a 220-acre parcel on Browns Road near Colburn.

The four-phase project would remove and process approximately 360,000 cubic yards of aggregate.

The life of the mine would be about 40 years.

The hours of operation would be from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday.

The project is expected to result in a decrease of truck traffic on U.S. Highway 95 because Woods currently draws crushed rock from its Upper Pack River Road quarry to an existing batch plant.

The planning department is recommending approval of both projects, the staff reports indicate.

n The staff reports can be downloaded from the planning department’s portion of the Bonner County website (www.co.bonner.id.us).