There has been an application filed for an asphalt mix plant to be built on the grounds of the P&H sand and gravel site on Route #10 in the northwest corridor of Winchester, the effects will impact the surrounding areas including our neighbors in Westport Village and the nearby trailer park in Swanzey on Route #10 more than any other habitations.
The application was for a variance in the zoning law and was first denied by our Code Enforcement Officer, stating that the asphalt is a toxic substance which is prohibited above a water aquifer. However the Winchester ZBA received an appeal of his ruling and then voted 4-1 to grant the variance, denying Leroy's ruling and declaring that asphalt is not a toxic substance. The use of gasoline and diesel were not considered part of the issue because Leroy did not include them in his ruling. Other issues, such as air and water pollution and resulting property values, should be considered by the Winchester Planning Board, which has scheduled a hearing on Monday night, Sept. 20th.
Some of the factors involved in these decisions are:
1) Some portions of the site are only 6 feet above the aquifer
2) The expertise relied on by the ZBA was supplied by an industrial insurance inspector and member of the ZBA and a person who works for the asphalt company ( can we all say conflict ? ) No one with scientific or chemical information was consulted.
3) Gasoline and diesel were not considered by the ZBA because they were not mentioned in the Code Enforcer's ruling and the Board was acting upon an appeal of that ruling. Wouldn't they be toxic if that got into the aquifer?
4) How will the various fumes created affect the nearby air quality? The prevailing winds will carry these fumes and any air pollution to many homes in the area and into Swanzey residences too. Won't this be creating a health hazard and also be devaluating property values. Isn't this going to impact the immediate area negatively and affect many people?
5) If toxic substances get into the aquifer, they will migrant into wells and the town's drinking water, creating other health hazard for everyone along the river and those who get their water from the town well on the highway.
6) Has the site been surveyed since it began operation as a sand pit and does the property extend into Swanzey and was that town notified of these impacts? Looking back, the Winchester ZBA didn't take into account many issues in making their decision. Let's not let the Planning Board make the same mistakes.
The application goes before the Planning Board this coming Monday night, those concerned about the health issues having this plant in town would create and the air quality problems it will present to people not only in the immediate area who live in Winchester but also to our neighbors in the Westport Village area of Swanzey, please attend. We ask that everyone join together to help keep this proposal from being passed.
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21 comments:
Word is Leroy is losing it, and Margaret is covering for him. Any chance that we have another full-timer we don't know about? Its another of those lack of trust issues.
Well all the sheeple stayed home last night and watched TV while citizens from Swanzey made their pleas to our PB. What's wrong with the people of Winchester, don't you care about what goes on in our town enough to stand up for yourselves? I am ashamed to be living amongst such spineless, apathetic fools. When your backyards and homes smell like burning asphalt and you can't stand the smell, remember you had the chance to speak up and didn't lift a finger to help yourselves or your neighbors. Go bitch in the mirror and place the blame squarely where it belongs.
Where were the people from Winchester in support of the Williards and other residents that will be affected most from this smelly plant that will ruin our way of life in Westport Village? Why do we have to put up with a dangerous health hazard so Winchester can gain a few tax dollars. What good neighbors you are. Thanks ever so much for ruining our lives.
That board is a joke with blondie at the helm no wonder you folks have so many issues in Winchester.
Is it any wonder Winchester has the reputation it has, no regards for it's own people now what they're doing is going to affect us. Looks like a big legal battle is looming for them again cause we're not going to sit back and just take it.
It's the "marketing team". The ones that feel that industry is the only option for Winchester. Or the only ones they know....
It's hard to get out of that mind set if that's all that you know.
There are issues going on in this town that includes everyone's neighborhood that destroys the enjoyment of your property mostly caused by the lack of enforcement by Leroy Austin, Sharra's and the past spineless planning board who have over reaching their authority. Top it all off with a corrupt election moderated by House of Rep Honorable Henry Parkhurst and Sherman Tedford.
From the dump in Ashuelot, the biomass plant to race tracks in every neighborhood from the Sharra's back yard to the Scotland Road to the Keene Road. Sand pits, junk yards, now a asphalt plant.
Your not going to get any where talking about this on a small forum, Sharra was the highest vote getter this past year's bogus election. You will need to come together as a group and as a group send a news letter to every household like Bob Davis did, make sure you include pictures for the brain dead none voting people so they can follow along to explain what is going on outside the six pack of Bud.
What benefits will the town as a whole receive from putting this smelly, polluting plant in out town that will disrupt the lives of our neighbors in Swanzey? Is there anything beneficial that I am missing? Doesn't this go against the town's own Master Plan for development?
Dear Shaking Your Head -
The answer is NONE! The new owner lives in Bellows Falls. Another case of, I wouldn't do it in my neighborhood - but I will gladly do it in yours.
We need a new Code Enforcement Officer. One that has a degree and has a vast knowledge of what he is doing.
One that has the spine to stand up for the Town's Regulation by attending the hearings in which he should be there to defend those regulations.
Instead there is a blind eye to all of the things wrong in this town. How many rules are being broken on your block?
Time to retire!
Do you people in Winchester care about anything? Do any of you have any common sense and know right from wrong? I could not stand to live around such people that won't lift a finger to stand up for themselves. Give up Informer, you're wasting your time on these fools, what great examples they are for their children.
Don't be too quick to blame Leroy. He lives in that neighborhood too. The people of Winchester are to blame for this. The town is sinking under excessive taxes that prohibit a quality business from desiring to being the tax cow for individuals that prefer a welfare state. Take a look in the mirror. If you don't want stinking business here, then clean up the welfare housing that is attracting low quality. That is the downtown image these days. Good quality business is attracted to workers with something besides an eighth grade education that's costing us millions.
The downtown low income welfare housing on Main Street your discussing was constructed by none other than Selectmen Ken Berthiume. Who took federal grant money to put the apartment housing in. Then sold it at a great profit.
This money could have been well spent on fixing single family homes in town.
Yes, Leroy may live near there - but he was not willing to show up at the ZBA meeting to defend his decision to not allow this type of business over the Aquifer. It is important that he show up and stand up!
Why was the ZBA willing to overlook the importance of the Aquifer? There is going to be a lot of diesel stored - in order to run the burners on this plant. They had the ability to hire an expert for advice, but they choose not to. Why?
Look at BP's disaster this year - anything is possible. Who will be held responsible to pay for the damage to the water supply if something does happen? The company? The Town?
Is the Conservation Commission attending any of these meetings and doing their homework or due diligence? Isn't that what they were created for? To help protect the environment of Winchester? Yet they have allowed questionable businesses to go in above the aquifer. What's up with that?
Unfortunately, our Aquifer is in the Commercial Zone. Still, we could be marketing to "green" commercial businesses instead.
That's my two cents...
Before the Conservation Commission falls under attack again, they can oppose til they are blue in the face but they can not prevent a thing. RSA only permits them to express a concern. They have NO authority. What happens here is in the hands of the BOS, the Planning Board and the Zoning Board who obviously do not care about the aquifer, pollution, etc only money at our expense. And of course the unspoken good old boys that run things from behind the scenes. Since noone on our boards care be glad we have neighboring towns whose boards do care what drifts in their directions.
Yes, Gus, Irene and Bonnie what about the aquifer? Oh, I forgot you have your own well and don't give a damn about any of us. Oops! Act on your fiduciary responsibility for the town instead of your own. You wanted the power now use it in the right way and stop abusing it along with her "highness" and her cronies.
I wonder if some of the members of our Board of Selectmen are related to those officials out there in Bell, California? They sure do act like them, wonder if they have their hands in the cash pot?
Little birdie told me today that Leroy is really pissed at the BOS. He and the fire chief got ignored over an issue out on Scottland Road and he's not happy. Looks like the ZBA isn't the only board that feels they can ignore the code enforcement officer and do whatever they feel like. Must have involved someone's "friend" on the board doing something that isn't allowed as usual. When are people going to wake up to the double standard in this town and throw these people out of office?
If you want to name call, I will speak for myself at the risk of being called a GD liar again. I don't have a well. I have one of the infamous spaghetti lines running the length of my property and paid dearly for a leak. I am fighting tooth and nail for the aquifer and against all that affects this town's environment. So whoever you are, let me clarify that you are wrong about my personal beliefs, actions or where my water comes from.
Bonnie
Let me guess, Bonnie - it was Gary Puffer that made you fix the speghetti line?
It doesn't seem to matter that it was the Town that installed the unreliable "speghetti lines" to save money. But they force the homeowners to be responsible for them. It's simply WRONG!
I don't think anyone is/was calling you a GD liar, Bonnie. I think the anonymous commenter was asking where you and the other board members were/are when these meetings come up in regards to projects in our town aquifer? Doesn't seem to be any representation from the C.C. except Gus, and he doesn't do much talking nor voice any concerns, simply going along with the majority. Perhaps some people in town are upset and angry and have a difficult time directing that anger at those responsible and simply lash out at everyone.
WMUR has been notified of the town meeting on Monday November 29, 2010 at 7 p.m. regarding this proposed plant.
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