Gravel pit off North Street can move ahead, planning board rules
ELLSWORTH — A 10-acre gravel pit off North Street found unanimous Planning Board approval on May 5, following a preliminary application review in April. The pit, which is planned as two pits — an existing 1-acre pit enlarged to 2.3 acres and a second 7.5-acre pit — was proposed by E. Skip Grindle, who operates a landscaping business at 485 North St. Approval is conditional on submission of all required state documents.
Located in the rural and limited residential zones, the project’s preliminary review had raised questions on the Maine Department of Transportation (MDOT) permit for a new access road off North Street and the presence of vernal pools on the 45-acre site and water quality, as the site borders