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Springfield Selectboard hears strong public concern over proposed quarry rules in land use ordinance rewrite
Summary
At a June 22 public hearing, town staff and residents debated a comprehensive Land Use Ordinance rewrite that tightens environmental protections and adds new extraction rules—including blasting plans, seismographic monitoring and contested setbacks—before the Selectboard deliberates July 20.
The Town of Springfield Selectboard held a public hearing on June 22 on a complete rewrite of the Land Use Ordinance, with particular attention on new Earth Resource Extraction rules that would regulate quarries and gravel pits.
Mike Martin summarized the Planning Commission’s report and described the draft as a full rewrite intended to align with the 2024 Town Plan, the Selectboard strategic plan and applicable state statutes, including HOME (2023) and Act 181. The Ordinance Committee provided red-line changes to a December 9, 2025 Planning Commission draft.
The draft seeks greater housing flexibility—short-term rentals, home occupations, accessory dwelling units, tiny homes and reduced dimensional standards to ease infill—and tightens environmental protections for priority forests, river corridors and wetlands. On lighting, the draft removes the Stellafane Observatory Protection Overlay District and replaces it with townwide Dark Skies–aligned lighting standards.
Article 9, covering Earth Resource Extraction, was substantially rewritten. The Ordinance Committee drew on Act 250 case decisions and added several requirements now proposed in the draft: a licensed independent blasting plan, real-time seismographic monitoring of blasts, pre-blast property surveys, fly-rock controls and explicit vibration limits at residences. The draft also clarifies how local review (development review board/conditional use) will interface with Act 250 jurisdiction for larger sites.
Public commenters raised repeated concerns about the practical impacts of extraction in or near residential neighborhoods. Multiple residents — including Dan Keebler, Heidi Trimbach, Kelly Burke, Kelly Stetener and others — cited blasting, noise, dust and truck traffic; effects on seniors, children and remote workers; risk of well and foundation damage to older stone-foundation homes; harm to wildlife habitat; and potential downward pressure on property values. Several speakers said enforcement has been inconsistent, with complaints sometimes bounced between town and state authorities.
The draft’s setback approach drew sharp attention. Commenters recalled a prior 100-foot blasting setback; the draft considered a 1,000-foot minimum but the Ordinance Committee adopted a 500-foot setback to preserve commercial viability. Many residents urged a 1,000-foot minimum with the option for developers to seek a variance from the DRB.
The Selectboard has several procedural options: accept, reject or further modify the Ordinance Committee red-lines. The board’s revised proposal must be filed with the Town Clerk, returned to the Planning Commission for a written report on changes, followed by a second public hearing and then potential adoption; any adoption would take effect 21 days later. The Selectboard scheduled deliberation of the red-lines for its July 20, 2026 meeting.
No decisions were made at the June 22 hearing; the public record is open as the Selectboard prepares to consider the Ordinance Committee’s changes and the community’s comments.
