| Author | Message | ||
     mtierney Citizen Username: Mtierney Post Number: 476 Registered: 3-2001 |
If it is of any comfort to know, the quarry has been an issue since the '70s to my knowledge. The first of many schemes for development there involved hundreds of new homes. Called to mind the cave dwellers of the southwest! Each plan got smaller and many failed because of finances, etc etc. and the many obstacles presented by angry neighbors. Back when it was an operating quarry, the blasting was an issue. Also the trucks which lined up along residential streets before 7 a.m. with motors running, awaiting the crushed stone. The full trucks careened down Tillou Road. With the then junior high students at the foot of this street, parents had nightmares of a truck going out of control. Cracks due to the quarry blasting have been reported for 30 years! Maybe the same cracks? Just a little historic thread-drift: How many of you MOLers remember the onion truck which came down SO avenue out of control, smashed some cars and killed, as I recall, two women? | ||
| doublea Citizen Username: Doublea Post Number: 406 Registered: 3-2003 |
The fact that the quarry had been operating quarry in the past, with all the blasting, etc., has been mentioned before. The house that my wife and I now live in is the same house that my wife moved into with her parents 50 years ago. We are well aware of the blasting and resulting cracks from the operation of not just one, but two quarries. I'm sure you know that many houses in Newstead had cracked ceilings, walls and masonary damage resulting from the blasting. Much, if not most, of that damage has been remedied by now. I know in our house any cracks had been repaired over the years, as well as any masonary damage that may or may not have resulted from the quarry blasting over the years. There no doubt are a lot of newer families to the area who do not know the history of the area, and possibly their houses had been repaired before they purchased them. My point is that from what I know, having followed the planning board hearings, the development could have been built without the blasting. | ||
| Allan J Rosen Citizen Username: Allanrosen Post Number: 57 Registered: 4-2003 |
My oldest daughter turned onto Sloan Street some 20 seconds before that truck came through; she still has nightmares about the incident. | ||
| Howard Levison Citizen Username: Levisonhw Post Number: 4 Registered: 1-2004 |
I understand the history living near the quarry for some 30 years. But the question at hand is if they are exceeding legal limits. The Chief was to obtain information from the Labor Department. I would expect it to be presented to the BOT. | ||
| doublea Citizen Username: Doublea Post Number: 407 Registered: 3-2003 |
John Gross did call back to say that someone from the Labor Department would be getting in touch with me, as well as others (I'm guessing the others who had complained). No doubt it will be discussed this evening. John told me earlier today that he talked to the Chief, and the reason the blasts are travelling further is that Pulte is now down to 20ft., rather than 10 ft., and the cold weather is also a contributing factor. | ||
| vermontgolfer Citizen Username: Vermontgolfer Post Number: 254 Registered: 12-2002 |
Yep, that was some blast around 2:30 or so, I actually ran to my basement to make sure the furnace hadn't exploded. Sure scared the you know what out of me. | ||
| Mayhewdrive Citizen Username: Mayhewdrive Post Number: 744 Registered: 5-2001  |
I only caught part of the meeting on TV tonight. Anyone know if this was discussed? | ||
| doublea Citizen Username: Doublea Post Number: 408 Registered: 3-2003 |
It wasn't discussed. | ||
| Howard Levison Moderator Username: Levisonh Post Number: 42 Registered: 10-2003 |
I discussed with the Fire Chief. He indicates that measurements were made by the Dept of Labor and are within criteria. They have seismic recorders positioned at various locations and are continuously monitoring and reviewing results. | ||
| doublea Citizen Username: Doublea Post Number: 410 Registered: 3-2003 |
Right on schedule. | ||
| doublea Citizen Username: Doublea Post Number: 411 Registered: 3-2003 |
2:15p.m. Fed leaves rates unchanged. No house shaking. | ||
| jmfromsouthorange Citizen Username: Jmfromsorange Post Number: 28 Registered: 7-2003 |
was this the truck that crashed into the steps of a store front back in the mid 70's? the one across the street from the junior high parking lot enterance? if so a little girl was also killed in that accident. >>> mtierney Citizen Username: Mtierney Post Number: 476 Registered: 3-2001 Posted on Monday, January 26, 2004 - 3:57 pm: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- If it is of any comfort to know, the quarry has been an issue since the '70s to my knowledge. The first of many schemes for development there involved hundreds of new homes. Called to mind the cave dwellers of the southwest! Each plan got smaller and many failed because of finances, etc etc. and the many obstacles presented by angry neighbors. Back when it was an operating quarry, the blasting was an issue. Also the trucks which lined up along residential streets before 7 a.m. with motors running, awaiting the crushed stone. The full trucks careened down Tillou Road. With the then junior high students at the foot of this street, parents had nightmares of a truck going out of control. Cracks due to the quarry blasting have been reported for 30 years! Maybe the same cracks? Just a little historic thread-drift: How many of you MOLers remember the onion truck which came down SO avenue out of control, smashed some cars and killed, as I recall, two | ||
| J. Crohn Citizen Username: Jcrohn Post Number: 868 Registered: 3-2003 |
Wow. Twice last week in the middle of the afternoon (between maybe 2:00 and 3:30), I felt a rumbling in the house that lasted for maybe three or four seconds. Like Vermontgolfer, I worried for a moment that the furnace was on the verge of explosion, and would have gone downstairs to check had the rumbling not subsided. (Not that going down to check on an incipient explosion would have been very bright of me...) My cat was spooked and went scooting around from room to room, half-crouched and wide-eyed. I assumed the rumbling was from a low-flying jet, but it felt oddly different because it came from below, not above. It never occurred to me that the rumbling could have anything to do with blasting, because my address is two blocks east of Valley and at least half a mile south of S.O. Ave. In other words, I live nowhere near the quarry. Must be pretty powerful explosions. | ||
| doublea Citizen Username: Doublea Post Number: 416 Registered: 3-2003 |
During the planning board hearings, the Pulte representatives said that the explosions probably wouldn't even be noticeable. As Howard Levison says above, as long as the blasts are within he limits proscibed by the Labor Department, nothing can be done. I really was surprised by the planning board's ready acceptance of Pulte's representations. And yeah, I felt the blasts everyday this week. | ||
| doublea Citizen Username: Doublea Post Number: 417 Registered: 3-2003 |
Based on Pulte's actions with regard to any number of issues, most likely any claims for damage sustained by houses outside the 200 foot blasting area, which were inspected prior to blasting, will be useless. And this should have never happened. | ||
| jmfromsouthorange Citizen Username: Jmfromsorange Post Number: 42 Registered: 7-2003 |
does anyone know if the blasting going on now is any stronger then the blasting years ago? i know there are posting saying the levels are monitored and within the legal limits, but i don't think i've seen anything comparing the blasts between now and then. thanks! | ||
| Howard Levison Moderator Username: Levisonh Post Number: 43 Registered: 10-2003 |
Doublea, I do not understand your conclusion. Also,were properties outside of 200 feet inspected? How does any of this let them off from claims? | ||
| Mayhewdrive Citizen Username: Mayhewdrive Post Number: 761 Registered: 5-2001 |
Properties outside of 200 feet were not inspected & Pulte has refused to do so. Should damage occur, I've been told the only remedy would be litigation. | ||
| doublea Citizen Username: Doublea Post Number: 419 Registered: 3-2003 |
My post was confusing. Houses outside the 200 foot zone were not inspected. I'm guessing that in the event a homeowner outside the 200 foot zone claims damage was caused by the blasting, Pulte will say it was pre-existing. My point is that once the planning board approved the variance to reduce the buffer, and thereby approved the blasting, so long as Pulte operates within the legal limits, even if the blasting causes damage, the only recourse is against Pulte for damages. Pulte can't be told to stop blasting. Let's hope there is no damage inside or outside the 200 foot zone. I'm just surprised that the planning board accepted Pulte's representations that the blasts would hardly be noticeable. Listening to Bill Calabrese at one of the BOT meetings, I think even he is surprised at the magnitude of the blasts. I know that several of the trustees and John Gross read this board. Maybe this matter could be discussed at a BOT meeting, or information put on the Village website. It would probably be helpful to know how long the blasting will continue, whether it's going any deeper, how far it's been felt througout the Village, and any other information that residents should know. FWIW, once the project had been approved, although I was not in favor of it for numerous reasons, I thought let's get on with it and hope that the units are sold quickly. If the units can be sold at those prices with the taxes mentioned, it probably says something about the desirability of South Orange. | ||
| Mayhewdrive Citizen Username: Mayhewdrive Post Number: 762 Registered: 5-2001 |
doublea, I am starting to wonder who would be the subject of the litigation for damage outside the 200 foot boundary - Pulte or The Village, since the Village is the one allowing this to affect us. In addition, the original zoning, explicitly stated "Particular attention shall be given to the frontage along Harding Drive and Underhill Road so as to preserve the existing character of the neighborhood." (source: http://www.preserveso.com/zoning.htm) Considering that the house which has already been built is practically on top of the street (with virtually no setback) and has little correlation in design to the rest of the neighborhood, it makes me seriously wonder if anyone is paying attention to the terms of the zoning. Once they start building "inside the quarry", there are even more restrictions, such as no portion of any building is allowed to rise above the top lip of the quarry...I wonder if anyone will be enforcing that? Finally, once the plan was approved by the Planning Board, the Village was supposed to immediately re-zone the property for a maximum of 69 units. It has been almost 1 year and to my knowledge that has still not been completed. Why? yeah...yeah...I'm sure it's "Coming Soon".....  |
