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Commission to ask zoning board questions on sand-and-gravel expansion in aquifer protection area
Summary
Members reviewed a special-exception request for a small expansion of Silver Hills Drive gravel operations that partially falls within the Aquifer Conservation District; they asked staff to verify compliance with Pembroke's earth-excavation rules (chapter 197) and to request state DES permitting details where applicable.
The conservation commission reviewed an application and related maps for expansion of the Pembroke sand-and-gravel operation at 774 Silver Hills Drive. The applicant requested a zoning special exception because a portion of the proposed expansion lies within the Aquifer Conservation District.
Staff and commissioners discussed state permitting and the threshold for an alteration-of-terrain permit (cited in the application) and raised the town's own earth-excavation/reclamation rule (chapter 197), which the commission said limits excavation depth to a maximum of 8 feet above the seasonal high water table unless evidence shows no adverse water-quality impacts.
Members asked staff to confirm the disturbance area against the state's 100,000-square-foot threshold that can trigger DES review and to confirm whether the proposal complies with the town's excavation limit and stormwater/erosion-control requirements. The commission agreed to provide comments to the zoning board emphasizing sediment-control, groundwater/aquifer protections and compliance with RSA/alteration-of-terrain permitting.
