Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Quarry Permitting topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Hamden board approves conditional use for Canaan Road rock quarry; DEP permits required before operation
Summary
After a public hearing with neighbors raising safety, traffic and noise concerns, the Hamden Planning Board approved a conditional use permit for a rock quarry on Canaan Road on condition that all federal and state licenses (as transcribed: 'Maine DEP 38 MRSA section 4 90') are obtained and submitted to town planning prior to operation.
The Hamden Planning Board voted on June 10 to approve a conditional use application for a rock quarry on Canaan Road, subject to the condition that required federal and state permits be obtained and provided to the town planning and code enforcement officers before the quarry begins operations.
David Spencer (S7), representing WNS Inc., opened the public hearing by describing the proposal as a continuation of historical aggregate extraction in the area and said the site and surrounding properties have been gravel pits since at least the 1950s. "This property as well as several surrounding properties have been gravel pits since at least the 1950s," Spencer said, noting the site is roughly half a mile from the nearest residence and that natural topography and vegetation would buffer operations.
Spencer told the board blasting would be infrequent — roughly quarterly — and that crushing would follow a blast for perhaps 10 days to two weeks. He said the company has submitted applications to Maine DEP and received correspondence indicating DEP review; staff later confirmed DEP is the primary regulator for rock-quarry operations and that the town may still attach local conditions as part of conditional use review.
Several neighbors spoke during public comment. Bruce Morgan (S8) asked whether he would be allowed to hunt on the property and whether the pit would be fenced; Tony Carney (S10), who lives at 165 Canaan Road across from the site, said, "Our concerns are the safety," citing added truck traffic near a school-bus stop and difficulty accessing a mailbox at a corner. Aaron James (S9), a landowner with an abutting parcel, raised concerns about a claimed right-of-way across the property and asked whether crushing and blasting would occur year-round or mainly outside winter.
In response, the applicant said he did not expect the proposal to add many truckloads because a number of pits and town facilities already use Canaan Road. He reiterated that blasting timing depends on stockpile needs and recommended disputing claimants consult a surveyor about right-of-way claims. The applicant also said he plans to pave the entrance (spring 2027) after gravel settles to reduce tracking onto Canaan Road.
A board member moved to approve the conditional use application for tax map Lot 040062 with the explicit condition that all federal and state licenses be in compliance with and provided under the referred DEP citation (transcribed as "Maine DEP 38 MRSA section 4 90") and be returned to town planning and code enforcement prior to operation. The motion was seconded and passed; the chair recorded an abstention.
Planning staff (Amy, S3) noted that nuisance and civil remedies remain options for neighbors and that DEP may include stipulations in its permitting. The board closed the public hearing and recorded the approval with the permit condition requiring DEP licensing documentation to be provided before operation.
Next steps: the applicant must submit the required DEP permits and satisfy the town’s recorded condition before site operations may begin.
