A Shaw Brothers Construction request Tuesday to rezone a 6.5-acre parcel adjacent to its Gorham rock quarry on Mosher Road packed the Gorham Town Council chambers with opponents. The company, headquartered in Gorham, is seeking to switch the parcel from an urban residential expansion district to industrial.

Several neighbors lodged concerns Tuesday about quality of life issues like dust and noise stemming from the quarry. Company co-owner Danny Shaw said Shaw Brothers is below allowable limits. “We really try to be good neighbors,” Shaw said.

Opponents wanted town councilors to halt the request process, but the board unanimously voted 6-0, with Town Councilor Janet Kuech absent, to forward it to the Planning Board for review, public hearing and its recommendation. Then, the request will return to the Town Council for another public hearing. Before any decision, town councilors will visit the area of the proposed zoning change.

The parcel is a portion of a larger piece where Shaw Brothers previously had sought a contract zone to expand its quarry, but the Town Council in February unanimously rejected the request.

Town Councilor David Willis, in February, said more discussion should be heard and sponsored the construction company’s latest request. “I know this is a controversial topic,” Willis said Tuesday.

Town Council Chair Suzanne Phillips told the large turnout the discussion is not about quarry regulations. “It’s on the zone change,” Phillips said, adding that it’s a vote to go to the Planning Board.

Phillips limited speakers to three minutes.

A Portland lawyer, A. J. Hungerford, representing Mosher Road resident John Wise, said dust does leave the quarry site. Hungerford urged the Town Council to deny the application and said the quarry should be taken “up north. This is a residential town.”

Resident Charlie Hamblen, of Hamblen Drive, said Gorham has outdated quarry ordinances. Hamblen said the town of Alfred is dealing with a quarry request and is seeking an independent review. “Gorham should do the same thing,” Hamblen said.

John Stuart, of Mosher Road, said he lives a mile and a quarter from the quarry and has noticed a “tremendous” amount of dust. “We need increased monitoring,” Stuart said.

Shaw said the company is clean and neat. “If there’s something more we can do, we’ll do it,” Shaw said.

Gorham businessman Shawn Moody went to bat for Shaw Brothers and said they first wanted 20 acres, but have scaled the request back to six. “They’re good people,” Moody said. “Let’s get it right.”

The site was previously zoned as industrial, Town Councilor Phil Gagnon said, before it was switched to residential and Gagnon said he would be following the request at the Planning Board.

NOMINATION PAPERS UPDATE

Town Clerk Laurie Nordfors said Tuesday only Town Council incumbents Phil Gagnon and Seven Siegel had taken out papers. There are three seats available, including the one of Town Council Vice Chair Rob Lavoie.

No one had taken out papers for the School Committee as of Tuesday, with seats of Jaci Reynolds and Jennifer Whitehead available.

All seats are for three-year terms.

Nomination papers must be submitted by 5 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 4. The municipal election is on Tuesday, Nov. 4. For more information, call the Town Clerk’s Office at 222-1670.