<p>The town zoning board of appeals is considering whether or not to require the owners of Goodale’s sand and gravel pit to apply for a special permit to mine new areas of their property. A public hearing opened last week that saw strong expressions on both sides of the issue.</p>
A controversial decision is before the Oak Bluffs zoning board of appeals this summer as it considers whether or not to require the owners of Goodale’s sand and gravel pit to apply for a special permit to mine new areas of their 100.2-acre property.
A public hearing opened before the zoning board last week that saw strong expressions on both sides of the issue.
In a letter to owner Jerry Goodale this spring, Oak Bluffs building inspector James Dunn ordered the company to apply for a special permit because the sand and gravel operation “has been substantially extended since the use became nonconforming.”
Goodale Construction has appealed the ruling to the zoning board, claiming a grandfathered right to continue their work on the property without a special permit. The company disputes the claim that the use of other portions of their property qualifies as an expansion.
Neighbors to the property have voiced concerns about the growing impact of the business on their neighborhoods and the clearing of vegetation near their homes.
The sand and gravel pit has operated on the Vineyard Haven-Edgartown Road since before 1948, when zoning laws were adopted in town.
At the public hearing Thursday Kevin O’Flaherty, an attorney for Goodale’s, said although operations have indeed moved to a different part of the property, the work being done there has decreased.
“It is not the case that because the hole is bigger it is an expansion because that would mean every time a shovel of dirt came out of the pit, they would have to come before you for a Section 6 finding,” he said.
The total output of sand and gravel from the pit has diminished, he said, as have the hours of operation.
“It seems as though you just moved one operation from one corner to the other, basically that is what you did and that caught the attention of the neighbors and they assumed that you were growing because now you are behind their house, a little bit closer,” said Joe Re, a member of the zoning board.
When the pit first became operational, the region around it was sparsely populated. In the decades since, homes have sprung up in its vicinity.
Resident Patricia Mark questioned the owners about their future plans. She asked how many additional acres they were planning to mine, and cautioned them about the pit’s impact on the children of the neighborhood.
“Where does the value of life come in for everybody or are we just thinking of one thing, industrial?” she asked. “We are not bad people; we would like to work with you, but we are not going to let you come into our neighborhood.”
Richard Fried, a resident of the Iron Hill neighborhood, which abuts the Goodale property to the northwest, said his main concerns were environmental.
“I live there, and very often I have a strong smell of asphalt in my backyard, which causes me to close all the windows in my home and leave,” he said.
He wondered what rights the neighbors have in terms of environmental protections.
“This is Martha’s Vineyard, so I say not only should we have 21st century environmental standards, but we should have Martha’s Vineyard environmental standards, because people come here because of the wonderful environment here,” he said.
Dale McClure, who works in construction, commended the company for taking good care of the gravel pit, which he described as an economic boon for the Island.
“I would commend them for being honorable stewards of the land,” Mr. McClure said. “They have taken very good care of that pit as a gravel pit, we can’t say it’s anything else, and the island needs one, and we are all here and we have houses and yards and roads because that pit exists.”
The hearing will be continued on July 17 at 7:45 p.m.; at that time remaining members of the public will be heard, said hearing chairman Kris Chvatal. “The board is very anxious to bring this to a conclusion at that time,” Mr. Chvatal said.
Comments
will they ever leave this
dennis NBwill they ever leave this company alone,if its not one thing its another
I am confused, you move next
John Gault Oak BluffsI am confused, you move next a construction business and now you want them to stop make noise and smell. OH yes the CHILDREN will be affected. This last resort of people who don't other wise have anything else that will stand up to debate. This reminds me of the people who move next to a pig farm and want the pig farm to move. OH I almost for the Environment, and how now we should be establishing a new Martha's Vineyard standard. Whatever that might be? You knew what was next door when you moved in.
I'd like to ask Mr Fried how
Jeremy Bradshaw West TisburyI'd like to ask Mr Fried how long he has been living in the Iron Hill Farms neighborhood. If it hasn't been since before 1948 then he knew all well that he had Goodale's as a neighbor. Maybe he should have taken that into consideration at that time. Sounds to me he is crying over spilled milk. Goodale's serves a purpose on this island.
IT'S BEEN SAID BEFORE AND I
ROBERT EDGARTOWNIT'S BEEN SAID BEFORE AND I WILL SAY IT AGAIN. THE OPERATION HAS BEEN THERE LONG BEFORE THE HOMES IN THE AREA. IF YOU BUILT / BOUGHT A HOUSE NEXT TO THE AIRPORT, I SUPPOSE YOU WOULD WANT THEM TO STOP ALLOWING JETS TO LAND AND TAKE OFF. WITHOUT THE GOODALE PIT THE ECONOMY ON MV WOULD BOTTOM OUT UNLESS YOU ALL CAN AFFORD TO HAVE SAND, GRAVEL, CONCRETE, AND ASPHALT TRUCKED OVER ON THE MV TURNPIKE AUTHORITY AKA SSA
Excellent points. I am a
JJ OBExcellent points. I am a former airport employee and people do call and complain about jets landing and taking off. The airport is a 24/7 operation unlike Goodales which is not.
What everybody else said --
Susanna J. Sturgis West TisburyWhat everybody else said -- and Ray Ewing, I love that photo.
In the summer the strong
J. Baker MaineIn the summer the strong smell of fish and seaweed come to M.V. guess we should move the ocean,don't think your getting clean air on M.V .
The winds blow from the south west most of the year and what is south west of M.V., R.I,CONN.,NEW YORK,NJ,PENN,all kinds of toxins that blow out to sea (M.V.)24/7.
Ask the M.V.C. they did a study when a lot of people on the Island wanted a waste to energy
incinerator,now we waste much more fuel,packing,trucking,so semass can have the energy.
Give the neighbors a break.
a resident tisburyGive the neighbors a break. If Goodale has increased it's noise, smell, or expanded it's scope, then the neighbors did not bargain for this when they bought in.
Just like John Alley said in
J. Baker MaineJust like John Alley said in W.T. when the people next to Olsons Bros. pit wanted the town to take action on noise and ect. He said YOU BOUGHT THE LAND CHEAP FROM ME FOR A REASON ,the town will take no action !
Regardless of where you live
Douglas F Korves AIA Summer person and 18 year MV taxpayerRegardless of where you live on MV, the "toxicity" from NY, Ct, RI breathes air into the Vineyard's lungs.
I bought my house in Edgartown on Meeting House Way just when the Katama Dairy opened. My dear neighbors behind mending walls screamed about the odors, toxins, etc. and most of all the dangers to their children. They never made a comment about the sand pit very near it in Edgartown.
I took my toddler to the farm every visit to monitor "her calves" that disappeared and magically turned into cows.
The Vineyard used to have two sand pits (Read local not global: on-island environmentally better, small carbon footprint concrete plants with minimal trucking distances, island jobs, freed up spaces on ferrys, etc.) and one less insular, uber-exclusive boat, tennis, swim club.
Now, all you neighborly NIMBAs; gravel, sand and concrete trucks need asphalt and gravel roads within the "pit" to maneuver. Occasionally, those access roads need to be changed and occasionally someone repaves a drive or builds one.
A concrete truck or truck load of sand or gravel takes 3-5 car spaces on ferry. Imagine a ferry line where the next priority after emergency and fire vehicles is a mega-concrete truck.
As the Vineyard responds to economic, municipal, marine, growth, as well as new government storm regulations and "resiliency" repair and rebuilding requirements; their is a bonus to all to not tread on the "ex post facto" rights of Goodale et al.
Soon enough, you will be standing up to stop the water park, zip line, luxury or affordable housing project proposed for the former pit and to save your children from the lights, noise, traffic, and other effluents of the affluent.
My dream for the Vineyard is of a community college or a special 6 year high school, where our children can learn a "trade and stay" and/or tease their emerging adulthood before they have to leave us to find themselves.
My daughter reminisces about the calves and Katama Dairy milk in a bottle.
In 38 years of coming to MV, other than seeing the pit from the air, I have noted that the Goodale trucks on VH-EDG Road mean, a new house, "Y", school, business, pier, hospital, or ferry terminal is being repaired, rebuilt, or "hardened".
Look at that off the road, hidden and necessary industry as an island owned assett. Soften up folks!!!
Doug your right on.
J. Baker MaineDoug your right on.
There use to be 4 pits on M.V.,Goodale ,Grant Bros.,Olson Bros.,and a pit in chilmark,
Grant Bros.had an asphalt Plant and concrete plant also,Olson Bros.had a working pit and concrete plant,now John Keens pit. I've worked for all of them and driving to Katama was not fun. Just like the farm,I worked for Mr. E.Smith,and no one liked the smell of the farm then.
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