The Plaut property on Old Winter Street.
The Planning Board on September 23 gave the go-ahead for owners of an Old Winter Street property to use blasting to dig a utilities trench through rocky underground ledge. The owners, Timothy and Madeleine Plaut, sought permission for the alternative method after neighbors complained about weeks of noise from rock drilling and hammering.
Neighbors within 500 feet of the blasting area accepted an offer to have pre-blasting surveys done on their property so they could have evidence of previous conditions in case the blasting caused cracks. Maine Drilling & Blasting assured them and the board that any damage was highly unlikely but promised to pay for repairs if necessary. This mollified neighbors including Tim Christenfeld, who said, “I would whole-heartedly encourage” the board to give approval.
The company expects to do two “shots” of blasting per day over a period of five to seven work days.
The board also OK’d other changes to the plan they originally approved in May, including exteriors lights that comply with the town’s “dark skies” rules that were approved in 2016, as well as a larger driveway turnaround for fire trucks and a relocated septic field that’s necessary because of poor soil conditions in the original location
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