Let’s set the record straight.
The Gorham Community Alliance has opposed the expansion of the Brickyard quarry for almost 2 years. The quarry’s impact on neighbors is worse than people know and needs to be mitigated. Harmful dust spreads far and wide, blasting is causing damage to houses, the asphalt smell permeates many neighboring properties, and the noise is 24/7. We have asked for two things:
No quarry expansion (this will not halt operations, as the quarry has decades of rock in its current property, according to the owners).
Gorham updates the town ordinances for aggregate extraction operations (including quarries) and asphalt plants, which are currently outdated and limited in scope. Well-constructed ordinances will protect the neighbors and enable quarry operators to continue thriving.
At the same time, we have never:
Asked to close the quarry
Attacked or questioned the reputation of the quarry owners.
We understand the business investment made to start and expand the quarry, as well as the importance of jobs and taxes; we do not question that. We question why it cannot be a better neighbor.