NewsContact Denver7

Actions

Longmont homeowners say developer never mentioned soon-to-open gravel mine next to property

New gravel mine near Longmont housing development
Posted at 7:33 PM, Aug 11, 2019
and last updated 2019-08-12 00:19:54-04

Editor's note: Contact7 seeks out audience tips and feedback to help people in need, resolve problems and hold the powerful accountable. If you know of a community need our call center could address, or have a story idea for our investigative team to pursue, please email us at contact7@thedenverchannel.com or call (720) 462-7777. Find more Contact7 stories here.

LONGMONT, Colo. — Construction continues at a fast pace at Harvest Junction, a new housing development in Longmont.

For the Hamilton family, its location is perfect.

"Biking is 10 feet away," Everett Hamilton said. "If you want to go to the mountains, camping and hiking are 10 miles away."

The Hamilton's moved into their home about three weeks ago, but it was only a few days ago they found out they're living next to the future site of a gravel mine.

"We know that there are mining and fracking, and you see it, but we didn't expect it to be this close to housing," Sarah Hamilton said.

The couple says housing developers never told them Boulder County had approved a mining project on hundreds of acres of land across the new homes.

The City of Longmont says the project was all discussed years ago in public meetings and they notified the developers.

"I do have some remorse," she said. "I don't think we could have [been successful in researching the area]. Even if we were local, I don't think we could have."

In the county's development agreement, they say before any mining happens there will be a public meeting to talk about the possibility of changes to their plan because of new information that wasn't available when they approved it.