Councilors anticipate a large crowd of interested parties when they meet Monday to discuss a Spring Street rezoning request linked to Pike Industries’ quarry expansion plans.
Westbrook Mayor Bruce Chuluda said he expects Pike to respond by Friday to Idexx Laboratories’ claim that Pike doesn’t have the proper permits to operate the quarry. Until it does, though, Chuluda and city councilors say it’s hard to predict what will happen at Monday’s meeting.
The Committee of the Whole meeting is set to take up the issue for the first time since last March, when Chuluda requested rezoning Five Star Industrial Park, Westbrook Heights Business Park and the adjacent properties between Saco and Spring streets from industrial to light manufacturing.
The request came after Pike announced plans to expand its Spring Street quarry, and neighboring Idexx let the city know that it would not follow through with its own expansion plans if Pike were allowed to expand in the same area.
Following that meeting, the city tried to help Idexx and Pike work out a compromise, so that Pike would be able to expand without impacting Idexx. Those negotiations fell through.
Idexx had previously argued that when the company was considering locating in Westbrook, it was led to believe that the city was trying to move toward more high-tech, light industry. In the fall, however, the company’s attorney presented an additional argument that Blue Rock, which was purchased by Pike, never got the proper permits to have a quarry on Spring Street.
Meanwhile, the city has been waiting for Pike to produce proof of proper permitting.
“Our lawyer’s putting the finishing touches on right now,” Jonathan Olson, regional manager for Pike., said Tuesday. Olson said it’s going to be submitted to the city on Friday.
City Councilor Mike Foley said he’s not taking sides until he hears what Pike has to say.
“I don’t know the facts until I know the facts,” he said.
Council President Brendan Rielly said he, too, is waiting on Pike’s response.
“We need to get some answers,” he said. “We have to make sure we protect everyone’s interest.”
Chuluda said he’s still hoping to gain the City Council’s support of his proposal to rezone the property.
Regardless of where the councilors stand, they agreed that the issue is sure to draw a large crowd of interested parties, including other businesses and residents in that area.
“It’s going to be a fun meeting,” Rielly said.
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