Selectmen have approval over gravel pit operations.
The Ludlow Town Office BuildingLUDLOW — The Board of Selectmen has continued a hearing on a request to remove gravel from property at 1115 Center St. until Aug. 7 at 8 p.m.
Selectmen said two cease and desist orders were filed to stop Jose Fernandes from removing gravel from the site. Fernandes leases the property from the Joaquim Machado family trust.
Gina Fernandes said she and her husband were “blindsided” by the order to cease gravel removal from the site.
Last October, Fernandes withdrew his application for site plan approval from the Planning Board for a paint ball and go-cart facility on the site.
Selectmen said there is a question over whether the trustees of the property have approved removal of the gravel. James Machado, who is a trustee of the property, told selectmen that he is opposed to removing the gravel from the site.
Selectmen Chairman Jason Barroso said 225,000 tons of material is being removed from the site. “That’s a massive amount of material,” he said. He said that much gravel cannot be removed “without oversight.”
Selectman Aaron Saunders said that the board first needs to determine that the owners of the property are opposed to removal of the gravel before acting on a special permit for the gravel removal. There are also concerns about the impact of earth removal on the nearby Springfield Reservoir and surrounding walking path, Saunders said.
Town Attorney David Martel said selectmen need a letter from the trustees confirming that the trustees are opposed to removal of the gravel.