SHEFFIELD — Two organized groups of residents, most of whom live adjacent to or within sight of the Century Acquisitions plant on Clayton Road, are seeking to control a new use at that facility.
The Asphalt Defense Fund, based in North Canaan, and NO Asphalt!, centered in Sheffield, were represented Nov. 13 at a hearing before the Sheffield Planning Board by attorney Elisabeth Goodman.
Goodman spoke of a recent increase in activity, due in part to a lease of land there to Salisbury-based B. Metcalf Paving. Later in the hearing, owner Ben Metcalf explained in detail how he takes unused shingle samples that are stockpiled at the site, grinds them and creates what is essentially a recycled road paving material.
While he may have allayed some concerns about the potential for hazardous materials storage at the site, Goodman stressed that it is still a new use that needs a special permit.
“They are doing different things on the property, not just operating a batch plant. They are operating another business,� Goodman told the Planning Board. “If Metcalf came to you, you would require a permit. They can’t just go to an existing business and start operating on their property.�
Metcalf was reportedly given the OK to operate without a permit by the Sheffield building official.
Goodman quoted him as saying it was approved because the use runs with the land.
“I think that’s just a clear error that comes from having no advice of counsel,� she said.
There is also an issue of standing water at the site, essentially a created wetlands as a result of sand mining activities.
Century attorney Alison Cohen called it a “big puddle� that is regulated under a mining permit.
In addition, area residents’ claims of inappropriate hours of operation and increased truck traffic are not indicative of a change of use, Cohen said, adding that no limits on hours of operation have ever been imposed on the plant.
In January, Century sought a special permit for a hot asphalt mix plant from the town of Sheffield to expand its operation to include an asphalt batch plant, an operation they said was nearly identical to the concrete batch plant long in operation there. But after several lengthy hearing sessions, and strong, organized opposition, Century withdrew its application, saying it would reapply at a later time.
Opponents called it a new use and an expansion that would mark the end of the grandfathering of the nonconforming use there. The same applies now, they said last week.
Hearings have brought mostly decorum and a polite willingness to let everyone have their say. But claims by Century representatives that the plant is not producing more dust, noise and truck traffic were met with outbursts of protest by those who live nearby.
Kim Casey, who said she was raised on Clayton Road in North Canaan, and has lived in another home adjacent to the plant for most of her adult life, said things have been getting progressively worse and that the increase in impacts brought by Century is not subtle.
At last week’s hearing, an engineer and an owner of Century’s parent company, Andrew Clemente, became very animated when comparing current and past uses. Century bought the plant in 1994 from Connecticut Sand & Gravel.
Clemente said Century’s approach to operating and the addition of more paving results in far less dust and noise than under the previous ownership.
Board members who have not previously visited the Century Acquisition site plan to do so before the hearing continues on Dec. 2 at 7 p.m. at Sheffield Town Hall.
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