The owners of a rock quarry on Route 67 are in hot water with the town for allegedly doing work before and after hours.
Zoning Enforcement Officer Anna Silva hit Haynes Construction five violations earlier this month for allegedly crushing rock beyond the hours of operation detailed in its excavating permit.
Haynes Construction owns and operates a quarry on two adjacent parcels at 278 Oxford Road (Route 67) and 3 Echo Valley Road.
Sila said she has been receiving complaints from residents about early-morning noise generated from work being done at the site.
Resident Karen Blanchette, who moved to Chestnut Hill Extension four years ago, said she has been putting up with noise from the blasting on the nearby property since the day she arrived.
“At times the blasting from the quarry is so strong it shakes the doors and windows of my home,” she said. “If I knew this was going on I would never have moved here.”
According to the company’s excavation permit, they’re supposed to be doing work Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
However, Silva said the company is doing work before and after the alloted time — and on Saturdays. Haynes is crushing rocks about an hour earlier and an hour later than permitted, Silva said.
Silva detailed her claims with video and photographs.
Silva also cited the Seymour-based company for several issues related to its property, such as the improper installation of silt fences along the perimeter, the improper placement of boulders on slopes, and for allegedly encroaching on buffer zones to surrounding properties.
Haynes Construction has 15 days to comply with the notice of violation. Haynes could eventually be fined $150 a day if the violations continue.
Haynes Construction has been granted extensions on its excavation permit since 1992, when town officials approved the construction of the Markim Commercial Center.
The excavation permit for the 14-acre Echo Valley Road property expired earlier this year, and the permit for the Route 67 property expires Dec.10.
“Haynes Construction has exhausted all extensions in accordance with state law,” Silva said.
In a letter to town officials, Dominick Thomas, the attorney for Haynes Construction, called the violations “disingenuous.”
Thomas explained that Haynes Construction has operated under the restrictions of the permit for nearly 10 years, noting the only activities occurring before 8 a.m. and after 4 p.m. are material pick up, machine and site preparations.
Thomas also said Haynes Construction has addressed all other violations and will continue with rock crushing activities until the permit expires.
