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Mining ordinance goes before commissioners

| January 27, 2021 1:00 AM

SANDPOINT — A revision to Bonner County's land use code which would allow asphalt batch plants where gravel pits are located is being taken up by county commissioners on Wednesday, Feb. 10.

A public hearing on the code change is set for 1:30 p.m. at the Bonner County Administration Building.

The board is taking up the code change after the Bonner County Planning & Zoning Commission recommended its approval on a split vote earlier this month.

The county-initiated code change notably includes allowing asphalt batch plants to be conditionally approved in forest, agricultural/forest and rural zones. Those zones already allow gravel pits.

The expansion of asphalt batch plant opportunities drew criticism from the public during the hearing.

"It may need a conditional use permit, but that doesn't matter. After this gets approved, they'll be able to put an active asphalt plant in rural areas," said Jonna Plante, who is part of a determined group of landowners trying to halt the relocation of an asphalt plant to Frank Linscott's surface mine alongside U.S. Highway 95 in Sagle.

The county is deferring regulations on noise, dust and other nuisances to state and federal officials and standards.