Planning Commission recommends approval of Miller West oil-and-gas pad

The Ballard Planning Commission voted to approve a conditional use permit (CUP) for the Miller West horizontal oil and gas pad and will recommend the permit to the City Council. The motion to approve the CUP was made by Board Member Mark Redmond and seconded by Board Member Leah Bastian; the minutes record the vote as "All in favor," with Board Member Steve Collins excused.

Andrea Gurr, representing Uintah Wax, presented the Miller West proposal and described how the pad sits immediately west of previously approved Super Pad and Sage Pad and will employ the same access point and turn-lane improvements. "The only changes are the addition of a signed waiver from a property owner located within the 1,000-foot radius and the installation of directional signage to guide oilfield traffic to the correct pad locations," the minutes state, as read into the record by staff.

Commission discussion recorded in the minutes did not show additional conditions beyond the described waiver and signage. The written record indicates the commission closed the public hearing and returned to the regular meeting before taking the approval vote.

The commission's recommendation now goes to the Ballard City Council for final action; the minutes do not specify a council hearing date.