Neighbors of a proposed Gorham stone quarry and asphalt plant told the town planning board at an emotional public hearing Monday that ordinance changes under consideration would alter the nature of the town.
Planners, at the direction of the town council last month, are listening to public comment and making recommendations about proposed amendments to mineral excavation codes. The changes are being considered at the same time Shaw Brothers Construction Inc., is asking the planning board for a permit for a stone quarry and asphalt plant.
It’s being proposed on a 125-acre site zoned industrial on the
Mosher Road. The construction company bought the property from Lachance Brick, which retained a few acres to sell bricks.
The timing of considering the amendments also has drawn fire from critics, fearing changes would pave the way for the asphalt plant.
“I’m questioning the process in general,” Russell Sprague of Libby Avenue said at the hearing, which attracted about 50 residents.
It was the construction company that made the council aware of some of the ordinance issues, Council Chairman Norm Justice said Wednesday. Susan Robie, chairwoman of the planning board, said at Monday’s hearing that individuals have the right to ask for amendments to ordinances. She said the planning board’s job is to make sure applicants meet the codes.
Changes to the ordinances involve where noise levels caused by excavation would be measured. New wording would measure noise levels at property lines, instead of at the source.
“Noise has never been measured at the source,” Danny Shaw, co-owner of Shaw Brothers Construction, said at the hearing.
Proposed changes would also allow an abutter to an excavation project to sign a waiver if noise standards were exceeded.
Another change would update ordinances governing gravel pits to also include quarries. Planning board member Michael Parker said a definition was needed to describe what quarry walls should look like.
“We don’t have the means right now of dealing with quarries,” Parker said.
Noah Miner of Green Street said changing the codes now looked bad. “I urge the planning board to reject these changes,” Miner said.
“I feel Gorham is a special place. We’re being asked to lower standards,” said Donna Beane of Gray Road.
The noise issue sparked the most public comment. John Stuart of Mosher Road, a recording engineer, attended the meeting armed with a sound meter and an audio disc. He produced a recording simulating the level of noise that would be allowed at property lines. But the planning board prohibited it from being played during the meeting, fearful that playing it in an enclosed area would produce an objectionable noise to those at the hearing.
Stuart was permitted to play his demonstration after the meeting adjourned for those who stayed. The audio included the sound of a backup alarm, required on trucks. Stuart lives a mile from the proposed site and has concerns about increased truck traffic and noise generated by those trucks.
Stuart said Shaw Brothers is a good corporate neighbor. But he called the company’s present proposal a bad idea.
Karen Russell of Gateway Commons said she was upset that Stuart wasn’t allowed to play his recording during the meeting.
“I don’t have that choice,” said Russell, who lives in a development near the proposed quarry and asphalt plant site, about turning off noise.
Michelle Goldman, Gateway Commons, worried about noise, including backup alarms. “I’m pretty concerned about changing the noise ordinance,” Goldman said.
Jennifer Everett, Libby Avenue, objected to allowing abutters to waive noise standards. “I feel the planning board shouldn’t recommend changes,” Everett said.
Theresa Dolan, 309 Mosher Road, said proposed ordinance changes would affect the town negatively,
“This project will turn families away from coming to Gorham,” said Dolan, a leading opponent of the quarry and the asphalt plant. “To amend ordinances to accommodate a particular project is inappropriate,” she said.
Because of traffic noise along Main Street, Matt Zidle and his family, now of Mercier Way, moved from Gateway Commons. Zidle feared ordinance changes would make the town less desirable.
“We chose Gorham because of schools and quality of life,” Zidle said.
Residents also indicated concerns about blasting that would occur at the plant. Rudolph Kaserman, Queen Street, worried whether blasting would impact his water supply. “I’m very concerned about my well,” Kaserman said.
Dave Babino, Longmeadow Drive, lives 1.5 miles from the proposed quarry. He wondered who would be responsible for damage from blasting in the quarry. He said he has called the office of Gov. John Baldacci and requested a state review.
Baldacci signed a bill into law recently concerning blasting in gravel pits and quarries near residential areas. A press statement from Baldacci’s office said the law strengthens the notification process before blasting could begin. It also ensures that if blasting standards were exceeded, written approval would be required from the Maine Department of Environmental Protection before blasting could continue.
Patty Garson, Paradise Way, said she’s had 10 years of peace and quiet. Garson, who was born and raised in Westbrook, enjoys seeing turkeys, deer and other wildlife near her home.
“I don’t want this in my back yard,” Garson said of the proposed project.
Few spoke in defense of the ordinance changes. Shaw defended the company’s proposal. “We want this to be a good project,” Shaw said. “It will be a good project.”
Dana Ballard, Running Springs Road, favored additional industry in town. “We need more industry to support taxes,” Ballard said.
“The issue is very emotional for these folks,” Justice said Wednesday.
The planning board continued the public hearing to 7 p.m. Monday in the municipal center, 75 South St. Justice thought Wednesday the council wouldn’t consider planning board recommendations on ordinance amendments until the council’s September meeting.
cutline (john stuart 2) – Noise produced by a proposed quarry and asphalt plant in Gorham concerns opponents. Armed with a sound meter and a disc, John Stuart attends Monday’s Gorham planning Board meeting. 
cutline (Shaw Bros asphalt site) – A Shaw Brothers Construction, Inc., dump truck Tuesday rolls past a site on Mosher Road, Gorham, where the company proposes a quarry and asphalt plant.
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