Proposal to move millions of yards of earth in Lakeville draws opposition
Signs in opposition to the earth removal project have been placed in yards near the proposed sites. Photo by Sandy Quadros Bowles
Signs in opposition to the earth removal project have been placed in yards near the proposed sites. Photo by Sandy Quadros Bowles
LAKEVILLE — A proposal to remove more than six million cubic yards of earth from a Lakeville property over a 10-year period has raised concerns from residents, elected boards and an environmental group.
Carl Malloch, an owner of a 566-acre property at 30 Howland Road, has applied to the town for an earth removal permit. He seeks to remove 6,453,850 cubic yards of material from about 167 acres of the site.
More than 660 people have signed a petition asking the town to deny the permit. The petition is sponsored by protectlakeville.org, a citizens’ group formed in response to the proposal.
The project would take an estimated 10 years to complete, according to the application, and could result in future industrial and commercial development, including potential rail-oriented uses, at the location.
The work is needed because of the property’s current "steep and variable topography," according to the statement.
Members of the Freetown Lakeville Regional School Committee have raised questions about the project, which is located close to the Howland Road school complex that includes Apponequet Regional High School, George R. Austin Intermediate School and Freetown-Lakeville Middle School.
In a letter to the Lakeville Select Board, the school committee expressed concerns for student safety, school transportation, emergency access and "the district’s ability to safely operate its schools and school-related activities."
Committee members asked about the potential impact of dust and particle exposure, truck traffic during time when school buses are on the roads and whether blasting or other activities would take place during "school arrival, dismissal, athletic events or other periods of significant school traffic."
Members of the Freetown Select Board also weighed in about one of the truck routes for the proposed projects, which would run down Freetown Street.
The Select Board members cited potential for road deterioration due to heavy truck traffic.
An environmental group, the Community Land and Water Coalition Inc. of Plymouth, urged the Select Board to reject the plan outright.
The project may result "in a nuisance and risk of harm to the public health, safety and welfare that cannot be mitigated by conditions," the group said in a letter.
The project is scheduled to be discussed further at a Nov. 10 meeting of the Lakeville Select Board to be held at the Lakeville Public Library, 4 Precinct St.
Malloch did not respond to a request for comment.
