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Beta Technologies hearing focuses on blasting monitoring, pre‑blast surveys and homeowner protections
Summary
At a June 2 South Burlington Development Review Board meeting, Beta Technologies described blasting monitoring plans and agreed to expand pre‑blast surveys beyond its own buildings; board members pressed for published monitoring locations and an 8 a.m. start time to protect neighbors.
The South Burlington Development Review Board on June 2 continued review of Beta Technologies’ site plan amendment for grading and utility relocation at 154 Da Vinci Drive, focusing on blasting protocols and monitoring locations. Applicant representatives said a licensed blaster will set seismograph monitoring locations and is responsible for keeping vibration and noise within permitted thresholds.
Chris Gendron, the applicant’s engineer from Stantec, described the monitoring approach: “So what they do is they come up with a seismograph… They position them in those locations, and they monitor it throughout the blasting,” and said the blaster will adjust parameters if readings exceed the limits set in the submitted packet. Beta’s Alex Gagnon added that Beta’s manufacturing building will be one of the closest structures and noted the company has a strong incentive to avoid impacts near its operations.
Board members pressed who will verify the monitoring and where the instruments will be placed. The applicant said monitoring locations are typically the blaster’s decision and are guided by industry standards referenced in the packet; the applicant agreed it could provide the planned monitoring locations to staff or the board once the blasting plan is finalized.
Board members also pushed for neighbor protections. One member asked, “Well, if I’m a neighbor, I don’t care whether it’s a jackhammer or dynamite going off at 07:00. Can we impose a condition there?” The panel indicated an 8 a.m. start time for particularly intrusive activities would be applied as a condition, consistent with earlier hearings.
The board asked the applicant to expand pre‑blast surveys beyond Beta‑owned buildings. Gendron said the applicant will perform pre‑blast surveys on properties on Palmer Court and Caukins Court in addition to Beta‑owned structures to document preexisting conditions and provide photos and reports to property owners.
The board closed the hearing after no public comments were offered; the applicants were told they would receive staff follow‑up about conditions and documentation.
