BETHEL – Planning Board members conditionally approved a gravel pit expansion project for applicant Keith Durgin on Wednesday night.

Planners worked through their Findings of Fact process on Bear River Sand and Gravel – Woodwaste Processing, Composting and Rock Crushing project, then reviewed previous conditions of approval.

These include:

• Operation of the rock crushing and stump grinding components of the business are limited to 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

• Noise levels shall not exceed 70 decibels at the property line as established by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection.

• Per recommendations of Road Commissioner Scott Cole, access to the site shall be limited to Paris Road from the southerly (Route 26) direction until the northerly portion of Paris Road is upgraded to handle future traffic generated by the applicant’s operation. Both the nature of the upgrade and allocation of its cost is to be determined by the town of Bethel.

• Per recommendations of Cole, in order to maintain proper drainage along Paris Road, the town reserves the right to require placement of a properly-sized culvert or culverts and ditching at the applicant’s request within one year of commencing operation.

• Maintain the southern most permanent berm adjacent to Route 26 in addition to the temporary berming of the rock crusher described in the application.

• Control access to the site, per environmental protection department requirements, by gating the facility.

• Apply best management practices for dust control or abatement.

• Establish crusher and staging area and conduct rock crushing and stump-grinding activities outside of Portland Natural Gas Transmission System’s permanent 50-foot easement, per a letter from the pipeline company.

• Install the gravel pit entrance crossing the Portland system’s pipeline in accordance with the agency.

At a previous meeting, planners had tacked on another condition to make Durgin replace the town’s foam supply in the event of a fire. But Cole, acting as the town manager, asked the board to remove that condition.

Cole said that Bethel’s code does not support the requirement that an applicant must reimburse the town for operational costs.

“The Planning Board can assess a one-time cost, but there is no language that allows an ongoing assessment,” he said.

The second reason behind removing the condition is that it would put the Planning Board in a position to set fiscal policy, which is not the board’s role.

Planners quickly voted unanimously to remove the condition.

“It was a recommendation from the State Fire Marshal’s Office and no one gave it a close look,” Cole added.

Board Chairman Al Cressy said Thursday afternoon that he expected planners to grant Durgin’s project final approval at the board’s next meeting at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 25.

tkarkos@sunjournal.com

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