A CLOSER LOOK
The City Council will vote on final approval of an agreement between the city and Casella Waste Systems, Monday at 7 p.m., in Room 114 at Westbrook High School.
Casella’s requirements in the agreement:
– Provide curbside recycling to Westbrook residents, a $540,000 service.
– Reduce municipal solid waste tipping fees, saving the city $55,250 annually.
– Add a left-turning lane on County Road at the facility’s entrance.
– Match the city in funding for educational programs to encourage recycling, up to $20,000 in the first year and up to $5,000 in following years
Westbrook’s requirements in agreement:
– Reimburse Casella $100,000 for improvements already made to County Road.
– Extend public sewer along County Road.
– Install a flashing light on County Road.
Noise, traffic and the possibility of a trash incinerator coming to Westbrook are among the concerns of residents who live near the waste plant planned for County Road.
Neighbors got the opportunity to ask questions and air those concerns Monday at a meeting with city officials and representatives of Casella Waste Systems, which intends to build a $9 million construction and demolition processing facility, as well as a recycling drop-off station for residents and businesses.
The 27,000-square-foot processing facility is planned to open in October 2009, with site work starting as early as the end of this month.
The project was originally approved in 2001, but has since changed shape due to delays in the state permitting process that caused Casella to make other arrangements for offices and a maintenance garage that were initially part of the proposal.
Though the amended project has already been approved by the Planning Board, Casella still needs the City Council to approve an agreement between the city and the waste management company before construction can begin.
The City Council has already given preliminary approval to that agreement, which requires Casella to provide curbside recycling to Westbrook residents and add a left turning lane to County Road, and will take a final vote on Monday.
David Darling, who is one of the project’s closest neighbors, said he was worried about how the waste plant could affect property values, and asked what other pieces might be added to the project, especially if Casella sells Maine Energy Recovery Co., its trash incinerator in Biddeford. Casella has been in discussions to sell with Mattson Development, which has indicated it would not be interested in operating a trash plant.
“It seems like there’s potential for this to keep expanding and growing,” Darling said Monday. “I’m very sensitive about this.”
Brian Oliver, regional vice president of Casella, said there is a state ban on building commercial disposal facilities, and the company couldn’t build an incinerator if it wanted to.
Mark St. Germain of St. Germain and Associates, Casella’s environmental consultant for the project, addressed other potential environmental impacts.
He said noise wouldn’t be an issue because the processing would not be heard over the existing noise level in the area from car and plane traffic. Because the processing will happen in an enclosed building, he said, odor was not a concern, either. He said there wouldn’t be a problem with dust because the site’s interior roads will be paved.
City Councilor John O’Hara asked who would be cleaning up litter left by uncovered trucks full of trash traveling through the city. Oliver said it would be the company’s responsibility.
O’Hara also asked more about noise, wondering what could be done if it ends up being too loud for the neighbors.
Toni King, Casella’s regional engineer, said a noise study is required by the state three months after the facility opened. Oliver said the company and the city could work out a plan for what to do if an issue did arise.
“We want to be good neighbors here,” Oliver assured the residents.
John Pettingill, who lives on County Road, said he was concerned about traffic and whether the pavement itself would be able to handle the additional 200 trucks per day that the project would bring into the city.
“It’s horrendous,” he said about the current condition of the road. “The road will not hold up to what you people want to do.”
He said he was also concerned about trucks idling on the site at all hours of the night.
King said the company has a policy that does not allow trucks to idle for more than five minutes.
Kirk Noble asked about the sound of those trucks backing up.
“Will you not hear them? I can’t say that,” said St. Germain, but that the facility itself would provide a solid buffer.
The representatives of Casella encouraged residents to come to them whenever they had questions, and City Councilor Drew Gattine reminded them they would have the chance to speak again at the City Council meeting Monday.
“We want to have open lines of communication,” Oliver said. “We want to have full transparency.”
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