Here is the report of Bee reporter Russell Clemings on the proposed expansion of a gravel mine on the Kings River at Riverbend and Goodfellow avenues:

Opponents of Kings River gravel mining won a round Thursday when the Fresno County Planning Commission voted down a 315-acre mine proposed by Calaveras Materials Inc. southeast of Sanger.

Commissioners had tentatively approved the mine in December, pending more work on a list of environmental protections and related conditions.

But on Thursday, a majority indicated that they still were not satisfied that farmland loss and other effects had been fully addressed.

There were also signs that they had reservations about turning the Kings River into a new version of the pockmarked San Joaquin River, where much of the region's sand and gravel is currently mined.

"Explain to me, as we look into the next 20 to 50 years, when our children and grandchildren are going to be looking across the Kings River, is that what we're going to give them? Pits of stagnant water?" Commissioner A.J. Yates asked a Calaveras lawyer. Applause from about a dozen mine opponents followed his remarks.

The company's vice president and general manager, Burt Gilpin, said afterward that the commission's decision would be appealed to the Board of Supervisors.

In December, the commission had given tentative approval on a 5-2 vote with two absences.

On Thursday, the two commissioners who had been absent were in opposition. In addition, one supporter had reached the end of her term, and her replacement voted in opposition. Another commissioner -- Don Milligan -- switched sides without comment for a final tally of 6-3.

The company's proposal called for taking a million tons per year of gravel from 315 acres on the river's north bank at Riverbend and Goodfellow avenues.

It is one of three large mines operating or planned for the area. A 440-acre expansion of an existing 220-acre Vulcan Materials Inc. mine near Centerville was approved last year. A third mine, proposed for 500 acres of Jesse Morrow Mountain, on Highway 180 about two miles east of the river, awaits the commission's review.

The current Calaveras proposal is the second for the same site. Eight years ago, the Board of Supervisors approved a larger mine but required that the company rebuild a narrow bridge on Goodfellow Avenue and make many other road improvements. In the end, the company decided that would cost too much and scaled back its plan.

The new project would have required Calaveras to contribute only 20% of the county's share for the bridge replacement's cost -- about $138,000 -- instead of the entire amount. A federal grant would form the largest share.

One neighbor and longtime mine opponent, Reedley veterinarian John Gray, was especially critical of reducing requirements placed on the company from those in the earlier approval: "When I look at $7 to $8 million work of safety measures being pulled from this, it just really upsets me."