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
Gravel pit application moves forward
ELLSWORTH Planning Board members have unanimously found complete a preliminary application submitted on behalf of E. Skip Grindle & Sons Inc. to dig a gravel pit on North Street. Consultant Steve Salsbury of Herrick & Salsbury of Ellsworth presented plans on April 7 for a 10-acre pit at the site where a much smaller pit now exists.
“The scope [for this meeting] is to determine if this is a complete application or not,” Chairman John Fink reminded the board, following discussion on noise, access and the site’s proximity to KidsPeace.
Salsbury had initially presented a sketch plan of the proposed project to the board on March 4, where board members raised those issues. The preliminary application includes a letter from KidsPeace Operations Supervisor Dale Cook stating no objections to the proposed site. It also outlined the equipment, noise levels and hours of operation: 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. All falls within the city�