SOUTH HADLEY — Chicopee Concrete Services has asked to withdraw a special permit request to expand its sand and gravel pit located off Route 47, according to Director of Planning and Conservation Richard Harris
Robert M. Levesque, president of R Levesque Associates, wrote on behalf of Chicopee Concrete Services in a letter dated Jan. 23 that the applicant was requesting to withdraw the application without prejudice “based on feedback from multiple town departments and concerned citizens.”
The special permit request, which was filed in July 2018, was denounced by residents and officials concerned that the project could contaminate the Fire District 2 water supply.
The proposed project would have removed almost 2 million cubic yards from the Dry Brook Hill area, said Bill DeLuca, chairman of the town’s Conservation Commission. The geologic feature charges and filters water that goes through the aquifer supplying Fire District 2 wells.
DeLuca, who was among those opposing the special permit request, said that he views the withdrawal request as an encouraging step forward, but added that some residents still harbor concerns regarding Chicopee Concrete Services’ compliance with the pre-existing sand and gravel pit permit that the excavation site operates under.
“I think it’s a positive development, but I think there’s still more work to be done to make sure that space is safe moving into the future,” DeLuca said.
In the letter of withdrawal, Levesque wrote that Chicopee Concrete Services will work with the town and water district “on implementing safeguards for the existing, grandfathered earth removal operation.”
DeLuca also expressed hopes for a cooperative relationship between all parties going forward.
“I’m hoping this is an opportunity for us, the town, Chicopee Concrete and landowners to work together to find out the solution,” DeLuca said, “an everyone wins kind of thing.”
Representatives from Chicopee Concrete Services and R Levesque Associates could not be reached for further comment.
The Planning Board will vote on whether it will grant the withdrawal request at its Jan. 28 meeting, Harris said, adding that the board has not denied an applicant’s withdrawal request in the nearly 20 years that he has been with the town.
Jacquelyn Voghel can be reached at jvoghel@gazettenet.com.