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used as part of the operation's haul route. Instead, 5th Street S.W. will be improved and used by the applicant. The haul route for the project involves the use of 82nd Avenue, which currently functions as a truck route for citrus trucks and landfill traffic. 3. The required 150' setback from the mining pit to perimeter property boundaries is provided, and mounded spoil areas and on-site driveways are proposed to be located between the pit and adjacent properties to the east and west. Because the mining operation site abuts only agriculturally designated property, no buffers are required. The applicant, however, indicates that some existing citrus trees will be left standing along the site's east and west perimeters. ANALYSIS: Sand mining operations are necessary for development in the county since almost all developments, from single family homes to large commercial projects, require fill. Although mining operations are necessary, the county's Comprehensive Plan and LDRs restrict mining operations to the county's agriculturally designated/zoned areas. Mining operations are restricted to these areas for several reasons. First, mining operations require large areas of land where sand, marl, or fill material is available in large quantities. Such areas are readily available in the agricultural zoning districts. Second, agricultural areas are the lowest density areas in the county. Therefore, locating such operations in agricultural areas limits the number of residences that could be potentially impacted and places such uses in areas where the existence of large parcels tends to result in greater setbacks between adjacent uses (e.g. residences from mining operations). Third, where mining operations are proposed outside of the Urban Service Area in an agriculturally designated area (such as the proposed Rebel Ranch mine site), it is likely that the area will remain agricultural and low in density for the life of the sand mine operation. Thus, it would be unlikely that, over time, residential development would locate adjacent to the mine in a manner that could increase potential incompatibilities between the mining operation and new residences. Fourth, mining operations are similar in intensity to many of the agricultural operations allowed in all of the agricultural districts. Although all activities in these districts are characterized by significant expanses of open space, many allowable and appropriate agricultural activities can be intensive in terms of equipment use, maintenance activities, and hours of operation. General farming, citrus production, livestock raising, fish farms, kennels and animal boarding, and nurseries are all allowable agricultural activities that can be intensive in nature. It is staff's position that, like other intensive agricultural activities, mining is an appropriate use in the agricultural zoning districts. It should be noted that in addition to sites located in agricultural zoning districts, the LDRs allow mining activities, for a maximum period of 2 months, where such activity is incidental to an approved development project. An example of such incidental mining activity is where a lake is proposed for a development and the material removed during the creation of the lake is transported off-site for fill material. 39 March 14, 1995 bou FA.;L