I am writing today with grave concerns about Nashua’s Planning Board possibly considering a Temple Street asphalt plant right in the middle of a mixed-used area that is primarily a residential neighborhood, along with its nearby churches, schools and food establishments.

The risk to the general population of having to endure a lower quality of life due to, among other complex issues, the potential “smell” is something unthinkable for such a densely populated old historic Nashua neighborhood.

There is a current prime example in Irvine, California, of continuous lawsuits against an asphalt company, as all promises of the plant not affecting homes didn’t happen (regardless of the company’s promises). The Irvine example is even in an area with a far larger distance of the plant to homes than what is here proposed in Nashua.

Nashua must decline such inappropriate development in what is to be a future gateway area to the city, once the proposed reconfiguration of the access surrounding the Hudson Bridge are complete.

The quality of life in all of Crown Hill and surrounding areas relies on the planning board’s proper judgement in rejecting this proposal outright. This historic neighborhood which already endured being a Phoenix out of the ashes in its historic 1930 fire doesn’t deserve to be treated as if it is an industrial area which can negate all regard for this neighborhood’s residents and its crucial local businesses.