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Mar. 27, 2001 By Janelle Holden Citing the expense of underwriting an environmental assessment, Redstone Land Company recently withdrew its request to improve a remote Forest Service road accessing 3,000 acres it has proposed to develop. "After extensive review and careful consideration, we have decided to withdraw our request of upgrading Forest Service Road 240 and understand that it is a seasonal road and although we would prefer it to be rocked, it is adequate in its present condition," stated Redstone regional manager Dan Dattola in a March 14 letter to John Reidinger, lands and minerals forester at the Mancos-Dolores Ranger District. "We were a little disappointed in the fact that we are required to provide professional services i.e. archaeologist, biologist, engineers, surveyors, NEPA process people, and that we would also be required to pay the Forest Service cost recovery when the Forest Service has all these professionals on staff that we as taxpayers are already paying for," Dattola wrote. Redstone is in the process of purchasing a 3,048-acre tract of land from Blanding rancher Richard Perkins that lies north of Narraguinnep Mountain and south of the Benchmark Lookout on the San Juan National Forest. The land surrounding the acreage has historically been used for livestock-grazing and remains undeveloped. It also provides critical big-game habitat for wildlife. The company has proposed to split the land into 87 35-acre lots. But in order to access the property, future landowners would use the rudimentary Forest Service road Redstone proposed improving, which crosses Guyrene McAfee’s property. Citing damage to her land, cattle, and wildlife habitat, McAfee wrote letters to the Forest Service opposing Redstone’s proposal for an easement to improve the 1.5-mile section of road. On Monday, McAfee said the Forest Service had yet to notify her of Redstone’s withdrawal, but she was still concerned about the noise and impact of heavy equipment that may cross her land to survey the property and construct houses and roads. Reidinger said that Redstone must apply for a road-use permit if the company uses FS 240 for a significant amount of commercial hauling, such as gravel for roads. Like other citizens, Redstone can drive normal-size pickups with crews when the road is open during the dry season. "They don’t just get to go drive wherever they want with whatever they want without considering the road maintenance needs, etc," he explained. The land sale between Redstone and Perkins is set to close in May. The letter did not state whether the withdrawal would affect the sale. Dattola was not available for comment on Monday. |
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Copyright © 2001 the Cortez Journal.
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