Neighbors stand against rock crushing
ANSONIA — A cadre of Westwood Road residents claim the noise, dust and fumes generated by one of the city’s largest taxpayers is making their lives unlivable.
And residents of the city’s Westwood Road neighborhoods also say they believe that Burns Construction is violating city zoning laws by crushing rock on the company’s Woodlot site.
“Back in 2002, Peter Crabtree, who was the city’s zoning code enforcement, ruled it was illegal when Complete Construction owned the site,” said
resident Leonard Marazzi.
Complete sold the 58-acre site to Burns last year.
Marazzi and neighbors Chris Rogers and Andrew Mark of the newly formed Westwood Association said the noise often begins early in the morning and continues throughout the day and sometimes on weekends.
The association has hired Kevin Curseaden, a Milford lawyer, in its fight against the business.
“The rock crushing operations has been denied a couple of times,” Curseaden said. “What I don’t understand is how it was allowed to come about now. This matter had previously gone through a public hearing, the permitting and appeals process and it was denied.”
Curseaden has sent two letters to David Blackwell Sr., the current zoning code enforcement officer, complaining about the business’s activity on the site “which he has yet to respond to.”
Barry Knott, a Stratford lawyer who represents Burns, said he is aware of the complaint but said Burns is complying with the city’s zoning, noise and contamination regulations.
“What Burns is doing is completely legal,” Knott said. “They are located in an industrial zone and that use is permitted. The zoning code enforcement officer, the town planner and the city attorney all agree that it is a permitted use.”
His remark was backed up by the city’s corporation counsel, John P. Marini, who said the city is aware of the complaint but agreed with Knott.
Their rock-crushing operation is legal since the material is not being dug out of the ground on the Woodlot site. Instead it is being brought from other construction sites, Marini said.
“Rock-crushing activities are allowable on this industrially-zoned parcel and as part of a major construction business that brings jobs and tax revenue to the city of Ansonia and its residents,” Marini said. “The city has heard the concerns of its residents, and understands that Burns is taking steps to mitigate the impact of noise on the surrounding community.”
A public hearing on the complaint has been scheduled before the Board of Zoning Appeals during its 7 p.m. Monday meeting.
In preparation, the Westwood Association has filed photographs, video and a petition signed by more than 100 residents opposing Burns’s rock crushing to the ZBA in preparation for Monday’s meeting.
“I am happy to say that we were able to get almost every unit at Liberty Pines as well as (North End) residents who live on 4th Street and Star Street to sign the petition,” Marazzi said. “This rock-crushing operation affects people on both sides of the Naugatuck River.”