Thursday, September 24, 2015




Update
Leber Lane Trailhead

Our original plan was to construct the Leber Lane trailhead last spring but we did not receive our building permit until September 14. With winter approaching we decided it is more sensible to build the trailhead next May.

Start looking for more information on the project and how you can help next April.



Hearing Examiner Approves the South Access Route

We are pleased to announce that on September 21, 2015 the Kitsap County Hearing examiner approved our request to haul aggregate via Werner Road instead of Northlake Way. The ruling also provides us with the ability to move the processing facility to another location along the South access route. These were the two major issues raised by the public during the original CUP process.

We see this as a long term win/win for the community and Ueland Tree Farm.
This link will take you to the Hearing Examiners decision 

Monday, August 10, 2015



South Access Route
With your support it will happen
August 10, 2015

In 2011 when the Ueland Tree Farm (UTF) Mineral Resource Conditional Use Permit (CUP) was approved, we heard from numerous members of the local community that they would prefer that gravel truck traffic go out via Werner Road. Some people also were concerned that the proposed processing facilities were not far away from the Lebers Lane entrance to the tree farm. 

Partly in response to those comments, we spent a considerable amount of time and resources investigating the practicality of creating a south access route to our tree farm. The steep hillside, along with the Navy’s requirement to have a long visibility corridor in both directions when crossing the railroad tracks, made this a particularly challenging issue, one which had not been adequately addressed in past studies (dating back more than two decades). Once we found a route that met environmental and Navy requirements, we also needed to consider the feasibility of acquiring legal access across parcels owned by six different parties, including the Navy, the City of Bremerton, an existing quarry, and an industrial site. After nearly three years of effort and investment, we made sufficient progress by August 2014 to propose a CUP Modification to Kitsap County.
The CUP Modification proposes to:

· Remove Gravel “B” from the project. Gravel “B” will not be developed as we donated a conservation easement to The Mountaineers’ Foundation. UTF is requesting that parcels subject to the conservation easement, and other parcels not directly related to the project, be removed from the proposal.
·  Allow us to shift transport of rock and aggregate from Lebers Lane/Northlake Way to Werner Road. UTF anticipates maintaining the Lebers Lane access route for employees, service and maintenance vehicles, as well as our ongoing timber operations. UTF requests that if the mineral access route changes to Werner Road the conditions in the CUP that apply to Lebers Lane/Northlake Way related to using it for the mineral access route also be removed from the CUP.
·  Allow us to move the aggregate processing facilities off-site. UTF requests that if the facilities are moved off-site (for example, to the existing Kitsap Quarry) the conditions in the CUP that apply to the processing facilities at Gravel “A” also be removed from the CUP.

On August 27th at 10:00am, we will present our proposed modification to the approved Ueland Tree Farm Mineral Resource Development CUP to the Hearing Examiner. We hope to receive community support as it is directly responsive to requests from the community. If you agree these changes are positive developments, we would greatly appreciate your attendance (and participation) at this hearing. This hearing is not about the mining project itself (that already has been approved), rather if UTF should be allowed to shift the mineral access route and location of the processing facility. 

 As always, if you have any questions please call Mark Mauren at (253) 307-5900 or read the material in the “CUP Modification” folder on the front page of our website.

Tuesday, March 17, 2015

Lebers Lane Trailhead


Status Report

March 17, 2015
Hi Folks,

We have been working actively with Kitsap County and others to donate an easement to the County for a non-motorized recreation trailhead and trail system on Ueland Tree Farm. The trail has been completed, and we are in the process of getting the signs installed. You may notice pink ribbon around the current trailhead. The ribbons mark the outside boundary of the proposed trailhead.  The following link takes you to the draft construction plans for the trailhead:

Trailhead Plans
or
http://uelandtreefarm.com/docs/LebersTrailhead/UTF%20Trailhead%20Plans.pdf


We have submitted an SDAP permit to Kitsap County for construction of the trailhead and, hopefully, can start construction in June 2015. The trailhead is being constructed through private donations and initially will be maintained by Ueland Tree Farm and volunteer organizations and individuals who believe in “paying it forward.”


We want to thank and recognize the following organizations who have generously donated time, equipment and/or materials:


GeoResources – Geotechnical Report – Specializing in Geotechnical Engineering (plats, roads, foundations, mining site and construction monitoring services) Contact: (253) 896-1011.

Contour Engineering -- Design and Permitting - Specializing in Land Development Civil Engineering, Land Surveying, and Land Planning Consulting. Contact: (253) 857-5454.

Paul Darst Logging and Road Construction – Clearing and Grading - Specializing in logging and road construction.  Paul: (360) 731-1942.

Backcountry Horseman of Washington – Volunteer labor – Back Country Horsemen of Washington (BCHW) is dedicated to keeping trails and recreation facilities open for all users through sound stewardship and volunteerism.  The Olympic Chapter has members from across
the Kitsap Peninsula. Jim and Elaine Davis: (360) 275-2989; Jim1297@aol.com.

Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance – Volunteer labor - Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance is Washington State’s largest mountain bike organization. Evergreen is dedicated to trail building and maintenance, advocacy and education. It strives to make Kitsap County one of the best places in the world to ride your mountain bike. Brian: 360-626-3107.

Pyramid Materials – Rock and aggregate – Pyramid provides quality aggregate and recycled products to Kitsap County in an environmentally responsible manner. Contact: (360) 373-8708.

Cascadia Pacific Group – Maps and permitting - Cascadia Pacific Group draws from over 3 decades of experience in land use, environmental management and real property.  It creates value for clients by applying creative solutions to each client’s needs.  Rex: (425) 223-3405.

Ueland Tree Farm – Land, signs, materials, and labor. UTF is a working farm – providing rock, gravel, and timber-related products as well as recreational opportunities to the Kitsap community. Mark: (253) 307-5900

If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Mark Mauren at (253) 307-5900 or
mauren.wa@gmail.com.




Friday, February 6, 2015

Ueland Tree Farm 5th Annual Plant Salvage Event
February 22nd and 23rd 
Posted - February 6, 2015

Hi Folks,

I want to enlist your help in getting the word out about our 5th Annual Plant Salvage Event at Ueland Tree Farm (UTF). UTF will be open to the public on Saturday, February 22nd and Sunday, February 23rd from 9:00am to 3:30pm each day to salvage plants. This event has become a nice opportunity for families and plant enthusiasts to get outdoors in the winter time and salvage native plants.
The following will be posted on our web site.
Hi Folks,
Ueland Tree Farm is excited to open up a portion of the tree farm to the public to salvage native plants on the weekend of  February 22nd and 23rd. Plants available for salvage include Douglas Fir, Western White Pine, Western Hemlock, Western Red Cedar, Rhododendron, Salal, Huckleberry, Oregon Grape, and Sword Fern.

Ueland Tree Farm will be open February 22nd and 23rd from 9:00am to 3:30pm. Last year over 130 vehicles took advantage of the free plants. The tree farm is located just northwest of Kitsap Lake (City of Bremerton) at the end of Lebers Lane (See Trail Map). If you have any questions, please contact Mark Mauren at  (253) 307-5900.


Mark and Craig