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July 23, 2009

Pike ordered to cease mining at quarry

Pike Industries must halt mining at its quarry on Spring Street in Westbrook, the latest development in the company's battle with the city to expand operations at the site.

The Zoning Board of Appeals' 5-0 decision arose from a clash between Pike and a residents group, Westbrook Works, which claimed Pike and its predecessor, Blue Rock Industries, have mined the quarry illegally for decades, the Portland Press Herald reported. The board ruled Wednesday that Blue Rock never met conditions for working the site ordered by a zoning appeals board in 1968. The board also said it lacked the legal authority to consider Pike's assertion that the city implied acceptance of the activity by failing to act when Blue Rock continued to mine the quarry, the paper reported.

Pike, which also has an asphalt plant and quarry on Main Street that it wants to sell, sued earlier this year seeking to prevent the city from blocking its plans for the $5 million asphalt plant on Spring Street. Westbrook Works opposes the expansion, saying it would stifle growth in the high-tech sector and harm quality of life.

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