I have lived at 60 Oriole St. across from the Spring Street property that Pike Industries now owns since 1962. My husband Jim and I raised four children here.

Forty years ago, we were part of the neighborhood group that fought against Blue Rock moving all of their quarrying and asphalt operations to Spring Street. We organized and went to meetings and made signs. We fought that battle to preserve our way of life and protect our families.

Even though Blue Rock went ahead and started the quarry when they weren’t supposed to, they never did move the asphalt plant there or actively quarry. In fact, for 40 years, it has been very quiet. While my children were growing up, I worked the night shift and slept during the day – it was that quiet.

Now, all these decades later, we have the same situation. And in the local paper I read that Pike Industries, now the owner of that property, says that it is unfair that the business park is being rezoned. I do not think it is unfair at all. In fact, if we wish to discuss fairness, then let’s consider the neighbors who have lived adjacent to that property for many more years than Pike has owned it.

Since Pike has owned the property, the blasting activity has begun and it has been disturbing. While I wish to acknowledge the letter that Pike has written to our community, I also want to urge the city to do the right thing – rezone that park – and to uphold the decision made 40 years ago – not to allow blasting, quarrying, and all the dirty operations that go along with this.

Our neighborhood has been quiet, despite all the growth that has happened around us, and it’s only fair that it stay that way.

Jacqueline Oliver

Westbrook