The purpose of the Mineral Extraction Combining District (ME) is to provide for the public awareness of the potential for mining to occur in selected geographical areas of the city. The proper extraction of minerals is essential to the continued economic well-being of the city and to the needs of society. Land use conflicts can arise where mineral extraction occurs in proximity to less intensive land uses. The ME District will assist in informing the general public that lands within the ME District contain minerals and may be subject to mineral extraction.

(1973 Code, § 9-4.2501) (Ord. 831, eff. 12-10-1986)

Uses permitted within the base district shall be considered uses permitted within the Mineral Extraction Combining District (ME).

(1973 Code, § 9-4.2502) (Ord. 831, eff. 12-10-1986)

Accessory uses permitted within the base district shall be considered accessory uses permitted within the Mineral Extraction Combining District (ME).

(1973 Code, § 9-4.2503) (Ord. 831, eff. 12-10-1986)

Temporary uses permitted within the base district shall be considered temporary uses permitted within the Mineral Extraction Combining District (ME).

(1973 Code, § 9-4.2504) (Ord. 831, eff. 12-10-1986)

In any district where the district symbol is followed by, as part of the symbol, the letters ME, mining, quarrying, commercial extraction, and the processing of minerals, rock, sand, gravel, earth, clay and similar materials, and/or the reclamation thereof, shall be conditionally allowed subject to the regulations of §§ 159.405et seq.

(1973 Code, § 9-4.2505) (Ord. 831, eff. 12-10-1986)

For the purpose of this subchapter, the following definition shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.

PROCESSING. Washing, screening, grading, separating or crushing of mineral materials. PROCESSING shall not include such uses as batch or hot mix plants or other uses which require materials not found on the site that combine with the site material to produce a new product.

(1973 Code, § 9-4.2506) (Ord. 831, eff. 12-10-1986)

1. The primary purposes of the Mineral Extraction Combining District (ME) is to inform the public of the existence of minerals and the potential for mineral extraction.
2. However, inclusion within the ME District shall not alter the necessity for adequate environmental review, formal city approval and compliance with the California Surface Mining and Reclamation Act of 1975 for all mining operations as specified in §§ 159.345et seq. Inclusion within the ME District shall also not alter the ability of the city to deny any mining operation where the city determines that the operation will have unacceptable impacts on the environment and surrounding land uses.
3. In addition, nothing in this section shall be so construed as to imply that mining operations cannot be approved in those districts which allow such operations with a conditional use permit.

(1973 Code, § 9-4.2507) (Ord. 831, eff. 12-10-1986)

In establishing the Mineral Extraction Combining District (ME), one or more of the following criteria shall be met:

1. A mining operation currently exists on the land;
2. While a mining operation does not currently exist, mining has occurred on the land at some time in the past, and incompatible (i) surface land uses, as defined in the mining element of the general plan, do not exist;
3. It has been reasonably determined that minerals exist by the state's Division of Mines and Geology and/or a registered geologist, and incompatible surface land uses do not exist; and/or
4. The property is located within the MRZ-2b classification areas and incompatible surface land uses do not exist.

(1973 Code, § 9-4.2508) (Ord. 831, eff. 12-10-1986)