If you follow things here on Side, you know that Cape Brunswick is long on glorious opportunities to undertake major capital projects, and in the process, lift community pride to ever loftier levels. One of those opportunities has to do with the rapidly expiring viability of the town dump (or ‘landfill,’ to those who call swamps ‘wetlands’ and puddles ‘vernal pools.’)
Relishing the irony of it all, we understand from one of our sources that town leaders are preparing to advance a proposal that a new dump to replace our aging and déclassé ‘land-fill’ be constructed in the vast open spaces along Pleasant Hill Road, just hundreds of yards from it’s intersection with Maine Street.
While you may not be aware of the specifics, our insider status affords us access to behind the scenes details, which we’re all too happy to share with you here. Beginning with this artist’s concept for a ‘pleasant hill’ on Pleasant Hill Road.
According to early cocktail napkin sketch plans filed with the town planning office, the new project would be located on Pleasant Hill Road just west of Baribeau Drive, making it convenient to the major arterial intersection with Maine Street. Some might wonder if Casella Waste Systems has a hand in this plan, but Side has no evidence of such.
“This has always been a defining intersection in Brunswick’s character” said JP1 and JP2, “and we think it’s time to bring the most important elements of our infrastructure right back to where we can savor them on a daily basis.”
The site has been used as a dumping location since the 1800’s, so it clearly qualifies as a historic dump site, according to one town official. “What we’re proposing is entirely consistent with this historic use, and frankly, reaffirms Brunswick’s commitment to it’s unique heritage as preservationists and conservators of all that is important in our heritage.”
“We see no reason to desecrate pristine lands that serve as vital passage ways for native wildlife, when we have the resources right here close in to residential areas to replace our distant facility” said one local environmental advocate.
She added that the site along Bouchard Drive, much closer in town, would have been a perfect location for the new dump, but the tracks installed there get in the way. “We wish it were the other way around,” she said, “that the dumps could be built along Bouchard, and the MLF could be built at Pleasant Hill and Maine.”
“But we understand that dreams can’t always come true.”
“We lobbied with the most powerful members of the town council,” our source told us, “but they were insistent that the reduction in carbon footprint resulting from an in town dumps” was enough to sway them.
Those who live in the Pleasant Hill neighborhood, especially those close to the Maine Street and Baribeau intersections, are expected to oppose the plan.
But others said those homeowners should have known better; that this is a classic NIMBY reaction.
“If you buy a home near a historic and vacant dumping field, you should know that it could easily become a major industrial dumping facility for the common good.”
“Suck it up for the greater advantage of Brunswick,” one local curmudgeon said. “What makes her think her concerns should influence what goes on around here?”
One other resident said that in spite of assertions in the press, the fact that she owns property in the effected area does not expose her to ‘conflict of interest’ charges.
All of which leaves us very confused, so we’ll be watching for the Bobbsey Twins to clarify things. </p>
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