Residents at odds about Goni Road sand pit

Although some Carson City residents have complained about the sand pit off Goni Road, many more residents showed support of Cinderlite's pit Wednesday.

"I'm very happy to have them as a neighbor," said Goni Road resident Stephen Lani. "I think they've done a phenomenal job."

Because of the support from many Goni Road residents, Carson City Planning Commissioners decided not to immediately revoke the company's special use permit, which city planners had previously found to be in violation.

Instead, commissioners decided at their Wednesday meeting to have the planning department reinvestigate the allegations brought up in May.

Members of the Goni Canyon Preservation League complained to the commission in May of alleged mismanagement of the sand pit. They protested owner Gary Lehman's plans to ask for 80 more acres to extend his site.

The planning commission ordered an investigation into the allegations and in a July 8 letter to Lehman, Senior Planner Lee Plemel said Cinderlite was violating four of the 17 conditions specified in the operating permit.

The original conditions required that Cinderlite progressively rehabilitate the site with six inches of top soil and native material. But Plemel said Lehman had not rehabilitated the site or submitted plans for rehabilitation

The commission told Lumos and Associates, the engineering company representing Cinderlite at the meeting, they had until Sept. 20 to submit in writing their plans on revegatating the site. Commissioners also said the 17 conditions, which were written when Cinderlite obtained the special use permit to reopen the pit in 1993, could be changed.

It will be discussed at the October meeting of the planning commission.

Cyndi Howard, president of the Goni Canyon Preservation League, was one of the residents alleging Cinderlite of mismanagement in May. She said her biggest concern of the pit was safety because of the steep slopes.

"In 1993 we felt there were some areas that could cause injury," she said. "Today we know there are areas that could cause death."

She said she was worried that children who may hike or bike in the pit could hurt themselves, and she asked the commission to consider putting a fence around the pit if it remains in operation.