Quarry permit hearing draws Peabody crowd

PEABODY – Neighbors, city councilors, and state representatives came out in full force to oppose Aggregate Industries? request to amend its special permit at last week?s Ad Hoc Committee on Aggregate Industries meeting.The amendment would allow Aggregate Industries, who has owned the Peabody Quarry for the last seven years, to expand its rim, as opposed to digging deeper. Doing so would buy the company another 10-15 years at the site.The original permit comes with nearly 14 conditions to create a compromise between the business and the neighborhood. In order to maintain their stay, Aggregate must abide by those conditions, including one regarding the rim?s length.The quarry is currently at its maximum allowed length of 1,137 feet and 922 feet wide. With the Council?s approval, the amendment would allow Aggregate Industries to increase the length of the quarry by 1,120 feet, while keeping its width the same.Rob Robinson, area operations manager for Aggregate Industries, said that the proposed expansion area is already disrupted land.He also said that by expanding to extract more rock, rather than digging deeper, the lengthy process would be greatly reduced, as they would be able to excavate and refill at the same time.Robinson added that a new entrance road would be put in place to relieve some of the neighbor?s issues regarding the heavy trucks passing through each day.Still, residents have long wanted Aggregate Industries to shut down their operations because of the noise, dust, traffic, and damages to their homes caused by heavy blasting.?There has always been some concern,” said Councilor-at-Large Ted Bettencourt of previous excavating companies at the site. “The blasting has certainly always been an issue, but it seems that Aggregate Industries has sort of elevated all those problems.”Neighbors at the meeting complained about cracked foundations, growing creases in their walls, and falling picture frames, all caused by blasting.?I put some blame on the city for allowing houses to be built there,” said one resident, who noted a 32-inch crack along his living room wall.Resident Jarrod Hochman threw out questions about the monetary benefits behind an expansion, to which Robinson did not deny.Councilor-at-Large Anne Manning said she?s entirely opposed any form of expansion.?If you want to talk about closure, I?m all ears,” she said. “But if you want to talk about an expansion, forget about it.”She went on to say that an expansion wouldn?t meet several of the conditions on the original permit, such as satisfying the local need and keeping the neighborhood harmonious.?I won?t support it,” she said.Bettencourt also expressed his concern over the proposed expansion.?There are way too many problems with it,” he said. “There?s wetland disruption; concerns about water that I didn?t even realize needed to be talked about. I think Aggregate hasn?t been the greatest neighbor with the people around there?It?s not in the best interest of the community.”Ward 6 Councilor and Committee Chair Barry Sinewitz said that Aggregate Industries is most likely not going away anytime soon and they do have the right to exist, but the right to expand is another story.?Has blasting damaged houses?” he asked Robinson.?Plead the fifth,” shouted one resident.When Robinson replied straight faced with “No,” other residents laughed and called him a liar.At that point, after more than two hours of heated discussions, Sinewitz asked the Committee to adjourn.?The million dollar question with more noise, dust, trucks, and blasting, is ?what?s in it for the neighbors??” said Sinewitz.The next meeting to further discuss the issues surrounding an expansion, as well as a closure plan, will be held on Thursday, Feb. 21.