PUEBLO – The Board of Pueblo County Commissioners has granted final approval to build a gravel pit near Avondale following days of deliberation.
In a 2-1 vote that came two days after a packed public comment session at the Sangre de Cristo arts center that included several hours of testimony both in favor of and in opposition to the project.
Commissioners Chris Wiseman and Garrison Ortiz voted to approve the project. Commissioner Terry Hart voted against it.
There are a few conditions to this agreement that the company building the gravel pit will have to sign off on by tomorrow, this includes times on when the trucks will operate.
— Carl Winder KOAA (@CWinderKOAA) March 21, 2019
Opponents to the project argued that the gravel pit would produce more pollutants in the air and groundwater in the area among other other concerns about increased traffic in the area. That is why neighbors in the area appealed to the board of county commissioners to reject the deal’s approval.
The Pueblo County Planning Commission had previously approved the project after several attempts from Fremont Paving to gain approval over the years. The Pritekel family, who owns the property where the new pit will be located, said it was the property owner’s dying wish for Fremont Paving to extract gravel from the land.
