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Windham Town Council Will No Longer Review Mineral Removal Applications

February 20, 2010 - WINDHAM -- The Windham Town Council voted Tuesday evening to remove itself from the decision to allow quarries on privately-owned property in town. The change came after a contentious process to allow a quarry on a Nash Road property that spanned several years leaving several councilors wondering if they should be making these types of decisions.

''I supported this,'' said Councilor Carol Waig, who was on the council during the Nash Road controversy.

Waig explained that much of the language and technical aspects that were presented during the process, such as vibration measurements, were difficult to understand for someone with no background in mineral extraction.

''I didn't understand everything I was voting on. That's not fair to anyone involved,'' she said.
The Land Use Ordinance had required that all applications for mineral extraction would have to go before the planning board for approval, and then go before the council for approval. This change would eliminate the council approval process and retain the planning board's role.
''We have a legislative role as the council. The planning board has a judicial role,'' said Council Chairman Bill Tracy.

Margaret Pinchbeck, who was one of several residents who opposed the Nash Road quarry owned by now-Councilor Peter Busque, spoke during the public hearing on the ordinance change.

''The rest of the town has no say in who's appointed to the planning board. You've promised you'll make Windham more business friendly, but at what cost?'' she said. ''Just because we don't own businesses doesn't mean we don't matter.''

The council voted unanimously to approve the ordinance change, with Busque recusing himself from the vote.

by Emily Parkhurst, The Independent, Gray, Raymond, Windham, February 17, 2010

Lakes: Sebago Lake
Regions: Sebago


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