Commissioners debate restricting bedrock removal to protect weekend quality of life

Commissioners debated a proposed amendment to Article 16 that would restrict bedrock removal to between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. and would exclude weekends and Vermont public holidays. Commissioner Michael framed the proposal as a quality-of-life protection for residents living near construction sites and asked the commission to make the prohibition explicit in the LDRs.

"In no case shall bedrock removal be allowed outside the hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and I would add Monday to Friday and exclude weekends and Vermont public holidays," Commissioner Michael said, arguing residents should not be exposed to blasting and continuous chipping on weekends. Staff member Kelsey clarified the proposed wording would set an outer boundary for the Development Review Board (DRB) so that the DRB could not permit activity outside those hours, while retaining authority to place site-specific conditions inside that boundary. "This is just saying, in no case can the DRB allow it outside those hours," Kelsey said.

Other commissioners offered different perspectives. Commissioner Colin warned that having no weekend option could disrupt construction schedules if unexpected discoveries occur and suggested keeping Saturdays as possible workdays in some contexts; Commissioner John and Commissioner Donna favored carving out weekends and holidays to limit residential disturbance. The commission reached a compromise to add "day of week" to the list of factors considered in the bedrock section so that the DRB would have explicit guidance without an across-the-board, site-insensitive prohibition.