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Boa, 96 PACE 191 mining operation to be known as "Rebel Ranch" (see attachment #1). The proposed mining site was located on the south side of 5th Street S.W., between 82nd Avenue and 74th Avenue. During its review of the appeal, the Board raised concerns about the proposed mine and about county mining regulations and policies. The expressed concerns were: • The compatibility of mining operations with existing residences proximate to the mining site, even in agriculturally designated areas. • The need for greater separation between mining activities (excavation pit, on-site haul roads, stockpiles) and residences. • The effects of mining operations on surrounding wells. • The effects of truck traffic on the surrounding area. After lengthy discussion, the Board voted to uphold the appeal and deny the project, due to negative impacts on the neighbors' health, safety, and welfare. Subsequent to the decision, the applicant appealed the Board's denial to the circuit court by filing a lawsuit. No final judicial decision has yet been issued on that lawsuit. As directed by the Board, staff revisited the county's mining regulations in regards to separation distances between mining activities and surrounding residences. Through the normal LDR (land development regulation) amendment review process (includes Professional Services Advisory Committee and Planning and Zoning Commission review), staff conducted research and proposed changes to the LDRs to ensure adequate separation between occupied structures and mining activities. At special LDR amendment hearings held on May 15th and 31st, 1995, the Board considered and discussed the separation distance issue (see attachments 2 & 3). After lengthy discussion at the May 31st meeting, the Board voted to amend the LDRs to require new commercial mining projects to provide n 300' separation distance between all mining activities (excavation pits, on-site _haul roads, and stockpiles) and surrounding residences. During its discussion, the Board also directed staff to set up a workshop to address various mining issues raised at the May 31st LDR amendment hearing. •Workshop Approach Based upon the Board's direction, planning staff has scheduled a workshop to receive public input on the county's existing mining regulations. To facilitate input, staff mailed a special notice (with a copy of the current mining regulations attached) to owners, operators and design professionals involved with various local mining operations and to interested parties who live near the proposed "Rebel Ranch" project site. In addition, a public notice advertisement was published in the Vero Beach Press Journal. In this report, staff has attempted to address various mining related issues that have been raised. In this way, the Board can evaluate the county's current policy regarding appropriate locations and restrictions for mining operations. •Existing Mining Operations Most commercial mines in the county involve the removal and. hauling of sand fill material, and most are located on agriculturally zoned sites of 40-160 acres. Many sites are situated within or close to the Urban Service Area, while some are located outside the Urban Service Area in remote areas. In the past,, many mining projects were located on the sandridge and involved cutting -down and leveling off; portions of the ridge. Most of the more recent 2 SEPTEMBER 21, 1995