To the Editor:

The public hearing by the Pierrepont Zoning Board of Appeals held on October 15 was derailed from its original purpose--to interpret the definition of firewood processing mills and to resolve topsoil industry issues. It turned into a protest by some of our public officials against zoning in general.

Planning Board member Rick Brewer mentioned his use of chainsaws and said, "Please don't shut me down!" Surely Mr. Brewer knows that the use of chainsaws has never been under question.

Pierrepont Supervisor of Highways Shawn Spellacy said, "It was agriculture, just because it [for more than twenty years] has a title on it of Rural-Residential, doesn't mean that you can change the way we all choose to live."

The way we all choose to live? Wow, the meeting wasn't that big.

This was not a hearing to decide whether zoning should exist, it was a hearing to decide two issues concerning Duane Curtis' business operations on County Route 29 in Pierrepont. The first issue concerned a topsoil operation which has been run by Curtis for more than two years without any site planning or permits, yet ignored by Pierrepont officials. Pierrepont has now issued a stay on this in-the-shadows commercial topsoil operation--a light slap on the wrist for Duane Curtis. The second order of business was to interpret the definition of firewood processing mills, so that it could be determined in what areas these would be allowed.

Wise communities separate sawmills and log-milling operations from residential areas because of concerns about noise, fumes, beepers, and to protect residential areas' air and water quality. To protect air and water quality in agricultural areas is important as well, and that is why industry is generally kept apart. This was a hearing to decide what Duane Curtis' super-mill would be called, according to town law.

Duane Curtis' mill is capable of producing 72 cords per day. As with the topsoil, the raw material, logs, are trucked in to the property by dump trucks--the logs are not taken from the land the processing center is on. Because businesses like these operate at high volume and involve so much trucking, zoning regulations in other areas call an operation like this a "natural resource-based industry," with emphasis on the word, "industry," and do not permit them in areas zoned Rural-Residential. The Pierrepont Zoning Board of Appeals has chosen to call this industry "forestry." Bunkum.

Pierrepont's Rural-Residential zones have now been custom-tailored to fit Duane Curtis, and every other high-volume logging business. The smaller, traditional firewood operations in our area could be put under by this.

Hamlet of Hannawa, get ready, because, just as it now is for us, the logging mega-industry can come to any 2-acre or larger parcel of RR-zoned land surrounding you. If you are concerned about this, please help to put public pressure on Pierrepont to redefine its terms now. Public pressure is needed to keep rural-residential and agricultural lands clean and quiet.

Many residents have felt the harm caused by Pierrepont's selectivity in interpretation and enforcement of town law. It's time for Pierrepont to do what's right. If you wish to hear an audio recording of the October 15 public hearing, please call 379-9871.

The Biggs family

Canton