To the Editor:

There is an application for a ‘special permit’ to the Zoning Board of Appeals requested by J.B. Lanagan & Co. to utilize the old Pine Hill Sand & Gravel site at 498 Old Westport Road in Dartmouth to be the headquarters of his excavation company.

A couple of years ago a developer tried to buy the site to build off-campus student housing for 500+ students. After much opposition from the neighbors in this area, the developer withdrew his application for a variance which would have allowed him to build this type of facility in a Residential Zone “B” area (single family homes).

The following year the Zoning Board voted to not allow such variances to be granted. Our neighborhood was thrilled with this ruling. Our hard work to protect our properties had paid off.

Now the current owners and the potential buyer are apparently trying to circumvent that ruling by claiming that the Pine Hill Sand and Gravel company is an existing company that has been in continuous use.

This is simply not true. We are abutters to the site, and do remember what it was like when the Pit was in operation. But that had to be at least 10 years ago.

Once again the area residents are banding together to fight for our neighborhood. We are concerned about public safety, contamination of drinking water wells in the area, noise, dust, traffic and our own properties as well.

We invite all concerned citizens to please attend the public hearing on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2015 at 6:30 p.m. in meeting room 304 to show your support for keeping our neighborhood residential.

Carol Cabral