Pike Industries’ plans for Spring Street represent a significant threat to the future of our small farm.

It is unfortunate that a multi-national corporation the size of Pike (owned by Oldcastle Materials and CRH Plc.) would file a nuisance lawsuit against the city of Westbrook. This is simply a case of Blue Rock (the prior owner) selling the property to Pike without revealing that they did not have a permit to operate a quarry on the property. Blue Rock sought a permit in 1968, and was unsuccessful. Blue Rock then operated a very small illegal quarry for years without a permit.

Pike purchased the property from Blue Rock in December of 2005. When it was discovered in 2009 that there was no permit, Pike sued the city. Pike should be suing Blue Rock for fraudulently misrepresenting the property in the first place, and leave the city alone. It is not the city’s fault that Blue Rock sold Pike a “pig in a poke.”

A nuisance lawsuit to intimidate the city into providing a permit is just wrong. Pike should do what all us “little people” have to do. Fill out the form, apply for a permit and go before the Planning Board to get permission. Or, get their money back from Blue Rock.

Warren Knight

Smiling Hill Farm

Westbrook