NASHUA, NH – “You probably all have heard that the asphalt plant appeal filed by the applicant was withdrawn,” Mayor Jim Donchess said at the Board of Aldermen meeting on Tuesday night. “I believe that’s good news for the city, for the neighborhood, and for everyone involved.”
The news was announced in a press release from the Conservation Law Foundation (CLF) after widespread opposition from the community since the proposal went to the city’s planning board – who would unanimously deny the application the following year – in 2022.
According to the applicant’s legal counsel on Wednesday, Jennifer Parent, “Applicants dismissed the appeal based on revised property goals that do not include asphalt manufacturing,” she said in an email. “The decision to dismiss the case is not a result of any change in the Applicants’ view of any legal or scientific basis. As always, Applicants look forward to remaining productive members of Nashua’s business community.”
It was not specified what the revised goals are for the property.
Despite the news, some remain concerned that dropping the appeal does not mean similar plans won’t be proposed again in the future.
CLF staff attorney Heidi Trimarco said that after a very clear message of opposition from the planning board and community, it would be incredibly hard for the applicant to overcome that decision, and that they would be “hard pressed” to do so.
Alderman-At-Large Melbourne Moran called the withdrawal of the appeal a “big win for the city,” at the Board of Aldermen meeting Tuesday night.
“I want to thank the applicant really for making that decision to withdraw the application and to all the people who helped to raise this as an issue of neighborhood quality, the planning board as well for their decision to deny the plant,” Mayor Donchess said. “I think we reached the best resolution for the residents of that neighborhood and as well as the city as a whole.”