By Cliff White 

Staff Writer

Seven hands belonging to Gorham Planning Board members were repeatedly raised at Monday’s meeting.

First, Shaw Brothers’ proposed quarry was approved. Then came approval of a blasting permit for the quarry. The quarry required 41 conditions of approval and 10 conditions were placed on the blasting permit, but both were approved unanimously.

What now stands in the way of the board granting full approval to the project is a review of how the asphalt plant will operate.

As it did with the quarry and blasting permit, the board is expected to craft an extensive list of conditions of approval on the asphalt plant. 

Gorham-based Shaw Brothers has sought approval from the town to build an asphalt plant and quarry on 115 acres off Route 237 at the location of the former Lachance Brick Factory for the past 20 months. 

Much of Monday’s session was devoted to paring down the quarry’s conditions of approval to eliminate confusion and contradictions between conditions.

Individual conditions addressed issues which have been matters of contention between Shaw Brothers and residents who live near the proposed site.

One condition ordered temporary fencing around the quarry area. Another stipulated reclamation be guaranteed on all construction activities at the project site and that they be completed in a timely manner.

Several conditions concerning noise levels were amended and consolidated to provide a clearer picture of what would be required of Shaw Brothers if the project is granted final approval. The revised conditions ensure noise monitoring for 60-day periods after the opening of the quarry and asphalt plant, and continued subsequent testing on a complaint basis after the first 60 days. The project must maintain noise level standards set by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection. (DEP).

No more than one truck will be allowed to remain on Mosher Road’s widened shoulders before the quarry opens in the morning and trucks will not be allowed to queue at any point during the day.

The level of the water table must be found by the drilling of a well within 60 days after the approval of the quarry. Shaw Brothers co-owner Danny Shaw has said drilling a third well – required to triangulate the water table’s depth – is impossible until the project is approved and he has received permission to begin construction.

An adequate buffer will have to be maintained by Shaw Brothers throughout the life of the quarry.

Unanimous votes clinched approval of each of the quarry’s three phases.

The board then addressed the blasting permit for the quarry. Shaw Brothers agreed to provide one hour advance notice to all neighbors before all blasting. 

Discussions had not yet begun on a review of the conditions of approval set for the asphalt plant when the meeting adjourned after five hours of deliberations.

The next meeting of the board will take place at 6 p.m., Monday, April 7 in the Gorham Municipal Building.