MINUTES
CHARLESTOWN PLANNING BOARD
SITE VISIT – ST. PIERRE, INC. JEFFREY ROAD GRAVEL PIT
JANUARY 3, 2004
Members Present: Jesse St. Pierre – Chair; Sharon Francis – Vice-Chair; Steven Neill – Ex-Officio, Robert Frizzell
Alternates Present: Fred Poisson, Gail Fellows, Roger Thibodeau
Staff Present: David Edkins – Planning & Zoning Administrator
Others Present: Representing the Applicant - Hal Wilkins, Tim St. Pierre, Charles St. Pierre, Albert St. Pierre
Abutters & Interested Citizens – Priscilla Erisman, Kevin Blaine
SITE VISIT – Because Board Chairman Jesse St. Pierre has recused himself on this application and Vice Chair Sharon Francis had not yet arrived, Robert Frizzell agreed to act as Chair and called the meeting to order at 9:00 AM on the access road to the pit site (Jeffrey Road) near the site of the proposed scale house/office building.
Hal Wilkins displayed a site plan and oriented the audience to the site, pointing out the location of existing and proposed tree lines. He stated that there would be no excavation below the groundwater table and noted that Board members had been provided with boring logs which document the depth to groundwater.
There was a discussion of potential noise that might be created by the operation. It was observed that there is considerable background noise originating from traffic on nearby Routes 12 and 12A. In the course of the discussion Tim St. Pierre suggested that the applicant would be willing to place signs on the site asking truck drivers not to use their engine brakes in this area.
It was noted that anticipated truck traffic levels to the site will average approximately 75 per day with an expected maximum 175 per day during peak times. Tim St. Pierre suggested that the Town consider posting Unity Stage Road for “No Through Trucks” noting that St. Pierre would prohibit their drivers from using Unity Stage Road but could not control other non-company trucks traveling to and from the site.
It was noted that the access road will paved from Route 12A to the scale house and would remain gravel from that point into the pit. The separate roadway serving the residences to the west will remain gravel.
The group then moved to the edge of the existing excavation site, noting that it currently encompasses approximately 5 acres. In response to a question, the applicants noted that they are planning to install fencing in order to secure the pit area from unauthorized persons. Mr. Edkins asked that the proposed fencing be shown on the plans. The potential visual impact of the operation was discussed with respect to surrounding properties and adjacent roadways. It was noted that summer vegetation would substantially reduce the visibility of the site during peak operating periods but it will still be visible from some residences, especially those at higher elevations. The applicants indicated their intention to add screening vegetation along the northerly boundary of the site.
There being no further discussion, Mr. Frizzell adjourned the meeting at 9:55 AM.
Respectfully submitted, Minutes Filed 1/6/04
David M. Edkins,
Planning & Zoning Administrator
(Note: These are unapproved minutes. Corrections, if necessary, may be found in the minutes of the January 6, 2004 meeting.)
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