Granby gravel pit permit revoked

GRANBY, Mass. (WWLP) - A Hampshire County judge has reversed the decision made by the Granby Select Board to build a gravel pit in the town. The decision comes after an effort by neighbors to prevent the pit from happening.

In May of 2010, the Wilbraham-based company Stony Hill Sand & Gravel applied for a special permit to use 18 acres on Trompke Avenue as a gravel pit. After a public hearing process, the town's Select Board approved the permit.

But it was a move that didn't go over well with Trompke Avenue residents, who were against the measure. They argued that having a gravel pit would be impact the residential area with noise, dust and vibrations from the constant traffic.

Mat Harris, owner of Peak Performance Bicycles hung up a flyer in opposition to the gravel pit at his business. “For a while, there it seemed like the people I talked to where pretty upset about the gravel pit and we had put some flyers in the window. They requested we put up a flyer just to let people know what was going on,” Harris said.

Because of this grassroots movement within the community, more than 200 people signed a petition which was used in the appeal. This petition, in addition to findings which proved the earth removal of the site could have an impact on the water table and surrounding wetlands, led the judge to revoke the permit and reverse the Select Board's decision.

22News contacted Stony Hill Sand & Gravel to ask if they would be moving forward in finding another parcel of land to build their gravel pit, but our calls have not been returned.