People living in a Canyon County subdivision are upset after the Planning and Zoning Commission approved a new gravel pit right in their backyard.
What now is an open field behind homes in the Two Towers subdivision could become a 64-acre gravel pit in the next six to eight years, but before that can happen residents are expressing some concerns.
Claudia Frent bought a 2-acre lot in March and just started building her new home in May.
“That's my fence line, and just beyond that fence line is going to be the gravel pit, so I will literally be able to stand at my fence line and look into the gravel pit,” said Frent.
She says when it came to choosing a property for her home, it was all about the location and the views. Views that could be gone.
“If you look at my home I have 33 windows in my home, every single window has a view OK?” said Frent. “They put this gravel pit in, my view will be of a pit.”
The Canyon County Planning and Zoning Commission approved a conditional use permit to Cope Sand and Gravel to expand their operations at a hearing on April 7th.
Bob Cope, president of the gravel company, says this location is one of the last places they can expand in, especially since resources are running dry.
“Two thirds of them are already closed because they run out of gravel, so this is basically the point of the gravel rock here and that's why we have to go here, we can't just go down anywhere to find the gravel,” said Cope.
Nampa businesses aren’t the only ones who use gravel from these pits. Cope says several different cities need it too.
“That's kind of why we need gravel here just to take care of Caldwell city and Nampa city, and not counting all these new subdivisions, if it wasn't for gravel they'd have to haul it from way, way out,” he said.
A process Cope says would cost residents more money.
Frent and other residents are worried that dust, noise and increased traffic will affect their homes.
Cope says advanced equipment will reduce noise and the amount of dust.
“Our drivers all are aware to drive slow, and as far as seeing the gravel pit, we have to go somewhere with it, you can just go any old where,” said Cope.
Frent stressed that she and her neighbors feel like their voices aren’t being heard and that the decision has pretty much already been made.
There will be a public meeting on the matter at the Canyon County Courthouse on Monday, June 27. It starts at 1:30 p.m.