Most Nashuans are not aware that an application has been filed with the planning board to site an asphalt manufacturing plant on Temple Street at the Amory Street rotary. With heavy trucks moving aggregate, asphalt and other heavy materials through narrow streets many times each day, this location just doesn’t work. Additionally, since asphalt is laid early in the day, this requires trucks lining up in the wee hours of the morning to get their loads. Who wants to be awakened at 5-6 a.m. by diesel trucks idling or loading?

This is a 1930s planning concept being applied to the 21st century. The city’s master plan created a transit overlay district (TOD) for this area in anticipation of Manchester-to-Boston rail and to encourage much-needed housing. The developers of Riverfront Landing on E. Hollis made a substantial investment in residential housing in this area and the developers of the old Henry Hanger building are working to create more housing. This is what Nashua needs – more housing that is within walking and biking distance to transit, services and downtown. The Master Plan also includes a new walking/biking trail along E. Hollis Street to downtown. With this added recreational/green space, this area becomes a vibrant part of our city and can be another beautiful gateway to our city. How likely is all this to occur if an asphalt plant is located nearby? Odors, noise, air and water pollution know no boundaries.

The developer of the asphalt plant claims that the facility will be “state-of-the-art;” no worries about air, noise, particulate, odor or water pollution. Sound familiar? We’ve all heard these promises from other industries. We don’t have to look far, Merrimack, to see a “state-of-the-art” facility, St. Gobain, whom we now know has polluted the groundwater with PFAS and has irrevocably changed the lives of generations for the worse. Developers and their representatives know all too well that once a facility is approved, enforcement either never happens or they can delay any penalties by fighting it in court for years if not decades. And if the operation goes belly-up and toxins are found, who is left to clean up the mess – the taxpayers.

There are currently 22 SuperFund sites in New Hampshire. Do we need to risk the potential for another? Interestingly enough, a housing project on Bridge Street, not far from this location, has been halted due to asbestos being found on the property. Apparently, it was a former SuperFund site that had been cleaned-up!

This begs the question, “What is the role of a planning board?” Isn’t one role to be forward thinking to shape areas to meet current and future needs? If it is to only to enforce zoning codes which are not often updated, then what’s the point? Studies are now underway to assess the impact such a plant will have on the environment. The results are expected before the Nov. 3 meeting of the Nashua Planning Board, which meets in the City Hall third floor auditorium. Check the Planning Board agenda on Nashuanh.gov to be sure it has not been postponed. If you have thoughts about this, please attend the meeting. You can also make your thoughts known by emailing the board at pb@nashuanh.gov.

Sherry Dutzy is a resident of Nashua.

Newsletter