A group of citizens have voiced concerns about Coastal Precast, formally the Bayshore plant.
Concerns are that the work taking place is “too noisy”, and it begins too early in the day. There are also concerns that the plant is an eyesore, and spoils the view.
Town Manager John Hozey told the Mirror via email, “a grassroots group of local citizens has formed bring their concerns forward. Their concerns involved air quality and visual impacts, but chiefly noise. I have been meeting with this group and with plant managers/owners to navigate a way forward. I will say that both this citizen’s group and the plant management have been very reasonable and we’re making progress. On the air quality front, the plant has purchased a water truck to dampen the roads during dry weather to keep the dust down. Regarding visual impacts, the plant is currently constructing a concrete block wall, 20 feet high and 400 feet long along the dock facing town to shield their material bins. They have also committed to removing the tattered material hanging from those large frames, and then eventually moving those frame to the south side of their property where they’d be less visible from town.
But most importantly, the plant has recently purchased and installed new equipment movement alarms that are significantly quieter than the ones they were using before.
Representatives from this citizens group and I when over there last week for a demonstration of these new alarms and they were much better than the old ones. Once all the equipment is configured with these new alarms we should see a noticeable reduction in noise levels coming from the plant.
Please note that this is a reduction of noise levels; there will never be an elimination of noise levels. We’re working cooperatively with the plant to reach compromise solutions that minimize quality of life impacts here in town, but also allow the plant to remain profitable and grow.
I think we’re striking that balance fairly well at the moment.”