Gravel mining necessary evil as Mat-Su grows

It may seem like gravel mining is getting more prevalent in the Valley and that may be true, or it could be a perception.

The truth that gravel mining may be taking place more often is because, for a variety of reasons, it is happening more. One reason is an example of a company wanting to level a hill in Houston to make room for commercial lots. That’s part of the growth we keep talking about around here. As more people move to the Valley, businesses will follow and there has to be room for both.

And the idea behind the mine is something Houston has been aiming at for the last several years: introducing more business in its area.

The perception of more mines comes because gravel pits used to be out in the boonies where few people lived and nobody noticed. Now the boonies are subdivisions and gravel mines don’t make the best neighbors. They create traffic with trucks and heavy equipment, dust is a problem and so is noise generated by the work.

In the Houston case, neighbors are likely to be upset, but given the current mayor’s quest to establish a more stable and higher tax base, neighbors’ concerns may not have much leverage. Especially since the proposed production site straddles the Parks Highway, not a quiet place to begin with in those parts.

And, according to the landowner, he has received the blessings of the Environmental Protection Agency and the Corps of Engineers. If one project can satisfy those entities, then that’s quite the accomplishment, and certainly could limit the debate. The borough hasn’t blessed the project, but they can only make suggestions since Houston now has its own planning committee.

Granted, the borough has an idea that might mitigate some of the neighbors’ complaints: deeper buffer zones. If the landowner wants to be a good neighbor, he might consider that change to his plan.

He should also make sure the land left behind is in good shape until its paved over for development.

And he danged sure better be true on his measurements so he doesn’t mine into the water table, or otherwise disturb people’s wells in that area.

Otherwise, this is one mine that looks good on paper. Level a hill so someday businesses can establish along a busy state highway.