PL PACKET 09191995 - Laserfiche WebLink

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CHAPTER 3 PROTECTION OPEN SPACE 55 • PRODUCTION LANDS While New Brighton has no land suitable for agriculture use, it does have mineral lands. Lands for mineral productions are lands with commercially valuable mineral deposits, such as sands, gravel, shale, dolomite, limestone, peat and clay. They constitute a regional source of construction material, and their "close-in" locations can lower costs. Proper management can ensure that the resources will be available when needed and that these lands will be reclaimed so they subsequently will be suitable for other uses, including public open space. If not properly managed, valuable resources may be lost to the Metropolitan Area. Permanent urban density development over these deposits would eliminate them from future use. Current planning and land use controls do not protect mineral deposit areas. Often, surface mining excavations are left as major scars on the landscape. If restoration does take place, it is usually after the operation is over, increasing the cost to the operator and the local unit of government. Concurrent reclamation is slowly becoming more common. GOAL: PRODUCTION LANDS • Reclamation and restoration plans for mining operation sites should be submitted to and approved by the City before permits are granted. OBJECTIVE: PRODUCTION LANDS Reclamation and restoration of the landscape should be concurrent with mining operations. POLICIES: PRODUCTION LANDS 1. The City will adopt regulations for the interim use, development, and reuse of mineral deposit areas and create standards in regard to water tables and slopes of mineral deposit areas. 2. The City will continue to enforce existing performance standards for mining operations through special use permits, including requirement of bonds to cover the cost of restoration work and requirement of annual review permits.