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Residents press board over Swenson Granite Act 250 filing, citing noise, silica and truck traffic
Summary
At a lengthy discussion the board and residents debated Swenson Granite’s Act 250 application: negotiators said the company agreed to limit some operations and reduce truck counts; residents pressed for noise monitoring, air-quality scrutiny of the crusher and more public outreach before any long-term permit is finalized.
Residents and Select Board members spent a substantial portion of the March 9 meeting discussing Swenson Granite's Act 250 application and requested permit conditions.
Board negotiators said they asked the company to pay a 12¢/cubic-foot pavement-assessment for road maintenance and to supply armor stone for the Buck Lake Brook project; the applicant had already agreed to several changes, including adjusting truck routing and reducing peak truck numbers for some operations. "They reduce the number of trucks to 40 a day, 40 loads maximum," a board member said while summarizing the applicant’s concessions.
Multiple residents raised questions and concerns. One resident sought clarity on a reported failure of a quarry holding pond and where the drained water went. Another, Carol (speaker 7), urged more monitoring and public notice, saying she worried about health impacts and noting that crusher operations produce dust. "I mean, it's airborne," Carol said, urging the board to consider monitoring noise and air quality at properties rather than only at the quarry boundary.
Board members explained that crushers typically require air-quality permits from the Agency of Natural Resources and that noise-monitoring locations are often placed at property boundaries; residents pressed for monitoring nearer homes and argued that aggregate trucks and crushers can generate high decibel levels at residences during simultaneous operations.
The board noted a deadline of March 17 to request an Act 250 hearing if the town chooses to do so, and said it would continue negotiations and may call a follow-up meeting if no agreement is reached with the applicant. Residents signaled plans for local coverage and outreach to inform neighbors of the application and its potential long-term effects.
Quotes - "They reduce the number of trucks to 40 a day, 40 loads maximum." (board summary of the applicant’s concessions) - "I mean, it's airborne." (resident Carol, expressing concern about dust and silica)
Why it matters The Act 250 decision could allow extended quarrying and crushing operations, potentially affecting traffic, noise and air quality for nearby residents; the board must weigh negotiated conditions and whether to request a formal hearing in the district commission process.
