Batch plant is approved

SANDPOINT — Bonner County commissioners approved a temporary asphalt batch plant in Sagle on Wednesday despite a host of concerns raised by neighboring residents and allegations of prior non-compliance with permit requirements.

Commissioners granted a special use permit for Interstate Concrete & Asphalt to install the batch plant at Frank Linscott’s gravel pit on the west side of U.S. Highway 95.

The plant would operate from June 17 to August 31. Its hours of operation would be from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Material from the plant would be used for the Idaho Transportation Department’s widening of U.S. 95 in Ponderay and a county road project on Cocolalla Loop Road, according to Scott Rusho a construction official at Interstate.

The gravel pit was developed prior to the enactment of land-use regulations and has prospered for more than 40 years. But it’s been a particular source of despair for neighbors for more than a decade.

Efforts to rezone the area from rural to industrial so a permanent blacktop plant could be established ran into stiff opposition due to concerns over noise, dust, toxic fumes, increased traffic and potential impacts to the aquifer.

A temporary plant was allowed in 2001, but neighbors said the noise, dust and orders forced them to keep their windows shut in summer. They also contended that the hours of operation were often violated.

“I don’t want to go through that again. It was miserable,” said Sandra Smith. “We haven’t changed our minds. We still don’t want a plant there.”

Neighboring landowners filed complaints about after-hours noise with the planning department and sheriff’s office, although they had no effect.

The complaints were written off as noise from the gravel pit or transgressions of subcontractors who were working in the pit. Assurances that the temporary plant would not be odorous also turned out to be hollow, neighbors said.

“It was not a pleasant experience,” neighboring landowner Rich Faletto said of the 2001 plant, adding that the county’s code enforcement is not stringent enough and places too much of a burden on citizens to initiate land use complaints.

Support for the latest plant was voiced during the hearing, although it came from those involved in the extraction business or allied trades, such as trucking. They contended that the pit provides critical jobs as the timber industry shrinks in northern Idaho.

Much of the commission’s deliberations centered around ensuring compliance with the conditions of approval.

Commissioner Mike Nielsen proposed a condition for a three-step enforcement mechanism that would start with a written warning and end with permit revocation if problems persisted. Commission Chairman Cary Kelly disagreed, contending that county could file suit to rescind the permit if need be.

Commissioner Glen Bailey said permit violations should not be taken lightly and appreciated the concerns raised by neighbors, but added that the county should not hinder progress.

“We can’t put a stop to our operations, our construction, our road jobs,” said Bailey.