The Fremont County Board of Commissioners this week approved a Special Review Use Permit to allow a bulk propone storage facility to be located on property along Highway 120 east of Florence. The site is owned by Aercrete Land LLC which plans to eventually manufacture aercrete building materials on the site. 35 acres of the property is being split off for the bulk propane storage which would consist of 48 large propane tanks with a storage capacity of 1.44 million gallons. The property is located on the north side of Highway 120 on the site of the old Domtar gypsum plant.
Tom Tulk said the propane distribution site would serve all of southern Colorado and is ideally located along a railroad siding next to the Arkansas River. Once in operation the company plans to employ from five to seven people working three shifts each day. A train transporting the propane to the bulk storage facility is expected to arrive with a propane shipment of six to eight rail cars every two days. Commissioner Mike Stiehl said the site is ideally suited for such a facility away from any populated area and shielded by vegetation along the river. Stiehl noted that because a large pipeline that runs into the Denver area will no longer transport propane the only service option is shipment of the propane by rail.
The Commissioners on Tuesday also voted unanimously to approve a resolution allowing the Fremont County Heritage Commission to designate local buildings and places as historical landmarks. Designation of historical properties would be done at the request of the property owner and would not place any structural or building limitations on use of the building. Commission Chair Debbie Bell said the program is strictly voluntary for which property owners would make application. She said there is also a process to remove a landmark designation.
Heritage Commission Chairwoman Carol McNew said it will give property owners the chance to highlight the historical significance of their property within the community and help facilitate possible state or national historical designation of those properties. McNew said the first building that the Heritage Commission will pursue for local historical designation is the Fremont County Administration Building which is 50 years old this year.
Also at Tuesday’s regular meeting, the Board of Commissioners:
- Adopted a resolution in honor of Richard Cozzette noting his contributions to the Fremont County Department of Human Services. Cozzette is retiring after 32 years of service to the Department;
- Appointed Judy McCormick to a three year term on the Fremont County Heritage Commission;
- Approved a two year extension of the Preliminary Plan for the 89 lot Mesas on the Ridge subdivision which is proposed along the north side of Van Loo Road on the north side of Cañon City. The developer said the economy still has not sufficiently recovered to justify commencement of construction.