One of the worst storms in recent months didn’t stop 20 neighbors and Gorham Planning Board members from touring the site of a proposed asphalt plant Saturday.
Shaw Brothers Construction of Gorham is expected to file an application this week for a 60-acre stone quarry and a $3 million portable asphalt plant, which would eventually be replaced by a permanent $10 million one. Shaw Brothers is hoping to put the plant on a 116-acre site in an industrial zone off Route 237 (Mosher Road).
Shaw Brothers Construction hopes to be on the planning board agenda in December. However, Planning Board Chairwoman Susan Robie said she doubted a “complete review” of the proposal would be likely that soon.
Carrying umbrellas and wearing foul weather gear and boots, neighbors and planning board members tramped over fields and through woods. A majority of residents were from the Gateway Commons development.
Concerns have included noise, air emissions and traffic. Walt Stinson of Sebago Technics, the engineer representing Shaw Brothers Construction, said studies answering concerns are in the process.
Abbott Mosher, who owns a home and a large land tract across Mosher Road from the proposed plant, is concerned about devaluation of his property and how it would affect what he could do with the land in the future. He said his property would look into the “throat” of the proposed plant.
Mosher’s property, now farmland, is zoned rural. “It’s not going to be left vacant forever,” Mosher said.
“We plan to meet with Mr. Mosher,” said Danny Shaw, who owns Shaw Brothers Construction with his brother, Jon Shaw.
Many of those attending the site walk wore safety colors as the first day of deer hunting season with rifles got underway. In a dense, wooded hillside, the group came across deer hunter Cody McPhee of Gorham who was hunting for a “big buck” that took off after being shot.
“It’s a wicked good hunting area,” McPhee said.
Before viewing the site, residents, planners and representatives from the construction company huddled inside the showroom at LaChance Brick Company for a briefing about the proposal. Shaw Brothers Construction bought the site several months ago from the brick company, which kept five acres and its buildings as a retail outlet.
(Site walk 3) – At a site walk held despite Saturday
(site walk 1) – Danny Shaw of Shaw Brothers Construction, left, talks to Gorham planners and neighbors in a dense, wooded area that was rain soaked Saturday. (Photo by Robert Lowell) 
(site walk 5) – A large turnout of Gorham residents brave wet weather Saturday, joining town planners to see the site of a proposed asphalt plant and quarry. (Photo by Robert Lowell)
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