A developer's plan to crush and sell limestone extracted from the former Underground City was approved by Burns officials on first reading at their Monday meeting.
Developer Kerry Lankford said his intention is to extract and sell the limestone that composes the more than 100-foot high cave off Lime Kiln Road, which is on land within the county. The rock will be transported to land within Burns city limits, where it will be ground down by a portable stone crusher and sold.
In an interview Monday, Lankford said the duration of his “temporary” operation will depend on market demand for limestone, which could last between five to 15 years. Ultimately, he said he would like to sell the leveled site to developers once he has completed the excavation.
“I think it's the best use of the property,” Lankford said of the excavation. “That property has been sitting vacant since about 1970. It's been an eyesore and a hazard.”
Councilman Chris Holland asked Lankford why his operation should not be considered quarrying. Lankford said that term was a misconception of his work.
“I'm not applying for a quarrying permit. We've only got a grading permit. We're only allowed to go to a certain elevation,” he said. “We're not going to dig a hole 400 foot deep.”
The zoning request he sought Monday night through the Burns City Council was to change the property from R3 (dense residential) to BP (business park), with the special allowance to crush and sell rock. The vote passed unanimously.
Lankford said in an effort to give back to the city, he is dedicating 2 acres of the property, which includes an old lime kiln for which the nearby road is named, to Burns for use as a future city park.


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