I am writing to inform readers that Monday, March 17, at 6 p.m. is the date for the final public hearings on the asphalt plant and quarry proposed for Gorham. If needed, the public hearing could be continued to March 20, 24 and 31 or as arranged by the Planning Board. The Hearing will occur in Council chambers at the Gorham Municipal Center, 75 South St.
If the idea of heavy and controversial industry so close to private homes, schools and residential areas concerns you, please be a part of the discussion with Gorham planners. Even if you are an advocate for this proposal, you may agree about the importance of town decision makers carving out safety and monitoring strategies that the applicant should comply with from the beginning.
Your input is needed and welcome. Whether you are for or against an asphalt plant in our community, surely our common ground is in wanting this business to have binding standards for self-monitoring that allows everyone in Gorham to be safe and to feel safe. As this application stands, there is no mandate for periodic noise monitoring for adherence to noise limits, no guarantees about the winds carrying noxious odors and toxins, no arrangements for area well monitoring after a preliminary test. There has been no independent hydro geologist to review the application, despite a clear recommendation for this. Whether you want this kind of industry in town or not, each of us has a stake in making our voices heard for a safe and protected place to call home.
Donna Waterman
Gorham
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