Monday’s planning board meeting featured a public hearing on the new proposed Busque stone quarry, pushing out other items to make room for the large volume of comments and questions from the Windham Preservation Committee that opposes the quarry.

Planning board member David Nadeau criticized members of both camps. He said that the quarry proposal penned by Sebago Technics engineering firm referenced, but did not include, documents from the earlier quarry plan.

Nadeau said that the previous application, which was approved by the planning board but rejected by the Windham Town Council, might as well not exist and its approval does not guarantee that this new application will be approved.

Nadeau also responded to a request from a Windham Preservation Committee member for the planning board members to reveal if they have or have had any business, personal or family connections to Peter Busque, Sebago Technics or any stone quarry in general.

“I’m not willing to go along with that. In fact, I’m fairly offended,” said Nadeau. He said planning board members take an oath when they begin serving and excuse themselves if there is a conflict of interest.

Planning board member James Seymour had already excused himself at the start of the public hearing, stating that he works for Sebago Technics.

“I think it’s a bad precedent and I wouldn’t be willing to go along with it,” said Nadeau.

The Windham Preservation Committee was formed by Windham residents who oppose Busque’s efforts to open a commercial rock quarry, most of whom live near the land where the quarry is proposed to be built. The area is considered a farm zone and the town ordinance allows stone quarries to operate there.

“Just because something is allowed use doesn’t mean it needs to be approved,” said committee member Margaret Pinchbeck of Nash Road. She said she wouldn’t allow her daughter to play T-ball at the sports fields Busque has offered to donate to the little league association if his quarry is approved because she fears the dust from the quarry would be dangerous.

“What he plans to do with the property outside the quarry should have no impact on approval,” she said. The land for the sports fields is located between the quarry site and Route 302.

Leon Pride, of Nash Road, said he likes the idea of the sports fields, but wishes they were located elsewhere.

Jennifer Potter, of Nash Road, said she talked to an appraiser and her house is estimated to drop $30,000 in value if the quarry is built.

Carl Russell said he tried to have his neighboring business, the Avant Garde pet kennel, appraised by a kennel specialist and was told it was unsellable. Russell said the appraiser had refused to give a price because of fear for liability.

“I just won’t have a business,” he said.

Linda Russell, a Nash Road resident who is not part of the Windham Preservation Committee, said she does not think it’s fair to bring property values into the discussion. She said people are allowed to have mobile homes on their land, which would bring down neighboring property values as well.

She added that if the planning board members are going to be asked if they have any ties to stone quarries, they should also be asked if they have any ties to the Windham Preservation Committee.

Peter Busque said he had the surrounding area appraised and offered to give the information to the residents, but noted that he was not required to.

“We’ve done what the ordinance wants us to do. Everything,” he said.

Busquepublichearing: Keith Williams and James Hanscom of the Planning Board look over a map of the new proposed Busque quarry.