ATKINSON — A group of residents is trying to ban trucking facilities in town after the zoning board denied approval for a 24-hour operation in April.
The town has received two citizens petitions, including one that would outlaw trucking companies in all zones. The other petition would limit business hours from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and restrict noise levels.
Resident Ed Tomasi, one of the lead petitioners, said the proposals are intended to tighten local zoning regulations.
"It seemed there was some ambiguity between the Planning Board and the Zoning Board of Appeals," Tomasi said yesterday.
The Planning Board initially approved P.J. Murphy Transportation Inc.'s proposal to build the 24-hour trucking facility in the commercial/industrial zone on Industrial Way, but the zoning board denied the plan after months of discussion.
The plan called for seven trucks and 14 trailers transporting petroleum and swimming pool water in the summer.
Atkinson's zoning specifically identifies what is allowed in the commercial and industrial zone but some board members said the trucking facility didn't meet the requirements.
Residents expressed concern about the facility generating noise in the middle of the night and environmental issues.
The Planning Board held a public hearing to discuss both petition articles Tuesday night and decided not to endorse them. The board can't amend citizens petition articles, according to Chairwoman Sue Killam.
Residents will still get to vote on the articles at Town Meeting in March even though they won't have the Planning Board's support.
But some Planning Board members said they would like to draft new versions of the petitions over the next year.
Vice Chairman Paul DiMaggio, who did not support the P.J. Murphy proposal, said the current petitions just had too many errors to support.
"It's tough for people to write a petition and do it right," DiMaggio said.
One issue was that trucking facilities weren't defined in a petition, he said.
Tomasi said the petitions are part of an evolving process and that he is open to working with the board this summer at some of its workshops.
"I'm considering talking to them at that time," Tomasi said.
Paul Murphy, owner of P.J. Murphy Transportation, appealed the town's decision in Superior Court but dropped his lawsuit in November, citing rising legal costs.
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