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3. Compliance and restoration bonds are posted (the same as for <br />commercial mines). <br />4. Haul route and road damage bonding requirements are applied <br />(the same as for commercial mines). <br />5. Littoral zone, water management, and slope requirements are <br />applied (the same as for commercial mines). <br />6. No dewatering is allowed within 1,000' of a platted <br />subdivision that is not serviced by public water (the same as <br />for commercial mines). <br />These limitations are applied to such mining activities to protect <br />the environment,such address mining hauling nactivi y is d to yellowed the <br />to <br />length of time 9 and <br />impact surrounding properties. <br />ANALYSIS <br />Appropriate Locations for Mines <br />Since almost every development project in the county requires fill <br />material, mines are necessary in the county. Consequently, mining <br />costs directly impact the cost of development in the county. Even <br />though most past and existing mining operations in the county have <br />not generated a significant number of complaints to staff, <br />experience has shown that commercial mining operations in the <br />county tend to remain active for many years and can cause adverse <br />impacts on surrounding properties and roads. In light of these <br />observations, the "big picture" land use question is this: "Where <br />should mines be allowed?" <br />Staff's survey of several other central and south Florida counties <br />indicates that commercial mining operations are normally limited to <br />agricultural and industrial zoning districts and are limited <br />further by special criteria and conditional use processes which <br />allow consideration of impacts on surrounding properties (see <br />attachment #4). Mining is considered appropriate in such districts <br />due to the site size requirements of such operations and because <br />such locations tend to affect the fewest number of people. <br />Existing Indian River County mining regulations take the same <br />approach, restricting commercial mines to agricultural districts <br />and further regulating such operations with specific criteria and <br />the administrative permit review process conducted by staff and the <br />Planning and Zoning Commission. <br />With current regulations, it can be expected that conflicts between <br />special uses, such as mines, and residents living in agricultural <br />areas will increase over time. The potential increase in such <br />conflicts is usually due to two factors: <br />1. The county allows single family houses on large parcels in <br />agriculturally zoned areas. As a result, many people settle <br />in agricultural areas, and more conflicts arise between <br />residents and normal agricultural operations (farming, <br />harvesting, spraying) as well as special uses (mining, <br />communications towers, fish farms, packing houses). Simply <br />put, people moving to rural areas end up closer to activities <br />or potential activity sites that are generally incompatible <br />with normal residential development. <br />2. Although residents in agricultural areas may expect or hope <br />for urban services (paved roads, improved drainage, quick <br />re qponse from emergency services), such residents may also <br />5 <br />SEPTEMBER 219 1995 BbR 96 Pau 194 <br />