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Planning board reviews Smith Pit site visit; reclamation plan status unclear
Summary
Staff reported that the Smith gravel pit is active on about three acres with a multi-phase excavation plan; no erosion or dumping was observed during a site inspection.
Staff reported on an inspection of the Smith Pit, describing it as an active operation using roughly three acres with boulder barriers in place and a four-phase excavation plan of which phases 1 and 2 are active. The operator said the excavation area is still above grade and the pit is intended to slope down to meet a neighboring recreation center property.
"He is using 3 acres currently," staff reported, and noted the operator said he would be willing to meet with the board to discuss pit operations. Staff observed no signs of erosion, washout, or illegal dumping during the visit.
Board members reviewed the paperwork and said the pit appears to have been grandfathered because it predates 1970; members noted that reclamation requirements may become mandatory only when an operator announces closure. The board asked staff to confirm the regulatory status and the existence of any formal reclamation plan with town counsel and to clarify why a form had been marked "NA" on the inspection checklist.
One member suggested replacing "NA" on the form with a short legal note explaining why reclamation did not apply (for example, grandfathered status) so future reviewers would understand the basis for the finding.
Provenance: Site visit notes and board queries about reclamation status are recorded in the meeting transcript and in staff notes included in the packet.
