This community has made it clear that it values health, wellness, and our quality of life. Recent events surrounding Resource Extraction conditional use permits (CUPs) have brought to light issues where the community needs to make some changes to be fair to all.
According to HB Code 18.20.020 “Resource extraction” means a heavy industrial use involving the removal of rock, gravel, sand, clay, topsoil, peat, timber, petroleum, natural gas, coal, metal ore, or any other mineral, and other operations having similar characteristics. Despite a CUP for Resource Extraction turning land use into a “heavy industrial zone,” such CUP requires only 10 days public notice and even less notice of specific details with posted planning and zoning agenda. Sixty days’ notice to the general public — not just to those located within 500 feet of such a major land use change — would improve communications, understanding, transparency and trust for all.
The manager’s report in early February noted there would be three CUPs on the March 14 P&Z agenda with no clarification that this would be for two Resource Extraction CUPs and one CUP to change a single-family home into a duplex. From final posted P&Z meeting information, it was clear the manager had spent many hours over many months having input into the Resource Extraction CUPs, inexplicably adding “There has been no public comment.”
Our quality of life requires that we do better. Let’s give ourselves a few months to improve public processes and communications prior to considering any further CUPs for Resource Extraction.
Kathleen Menke