In Plymouth, Meg Sheehan, attorney with the group, Save the Pine Barrens, addressed the Planning Board at their meeting on October 26th. She raised the issue of possible illegal sand and gravel removal, dating back to 2015, from the 18 acre site off Long Pond Rd.—where New Hope Chapel wants to construct a church of just under 800 seats.
According to the proposal, construction of the church, amphitheater and parking area requires the removal of more sand and gravel—over 68,000 cubic yards of it. With that in mind, Attorney Sheehan addressed the Board alleging that the prior owner of the property…
“Sheava Development, which is Scott Spencer, went to the Planning Board got a sub-division approval to put in a road, and said I’m going to build 5 houses—put in the road and took out the sand and gravel. Now, we don’t know the volume, but I have heard, a very lucrative amount.”
Sheehan emphasized that trees, sand and gravel, filter and protect the sole source drinking water aquifer and she told the Board her group needs to know…
“…why the building inspector ignored the complaints and the concerns of the residents since 2015”.
On the basis of this alleged illegal sand and gravel removal, Sheehan asked the Board…
“…to insure that the zoning law was enforced before they approved or made a recommendation to the Zoning Board of Appeals.”
Attorney Steven Bolotin is Vice Chair of the Planning Board, and he notes that based on state law, zoning enforcement is the responsibility of the building inspector.
“I was not in favor of any restriction on permitting based on a prior potential violation because I thought that was an over-reach of the Planning Board’s authority.”
Bolotin agreed with the other Planning Board members that the issue should be referred to the town’s building inspector.
Credit: Bobbi Clark
