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Issue · Amherst, NH

Marmon Utility LLC Silo Relocation

Relocating industrial silos outdoors raises zoning compliance, spill, noise, and wetland contamination concerns.

Overview

Marmon Utility LLC seeks to relocate two metal silos outdoors via site plan amendment. The planning board accepted the application as complete on 2026-06-03 but raised zoning, spill, safety, and noise concerns, then continued the matter on 2026-07-01 to August 5.

Background

The Marmon Utility LLC silo relocation proposal first appeared before the planning board on 2026-06-03 as a site plan amendment to move two metal silos from inside a building to an exterior location, along with installing a concrete pad and paving a gravel driveway.

Board discussion immediately flagged multiple compliance and impact issues, including whether the change would violate a 2012 Zoning Board of Adjustment decision requiring all operations to remain internal, the risk of plastic bead spills reaching nearby wetlands, the need for physical barriers such as bollards, and potential high-pitched noise from pressurized air unloading systems.

The board expressed significant caution, requiring additional research on legal compliance and directing the applicant to address safety, noise, and spill prevention measures before any further consideration.

The application was accepted as complete at that meeting.

At the subsequent 2026-07-01 meeting the applicant requested a continuance, which the board granted, moving the case to August 5 at 7 PM while waiving statutory deadlines.

This continuance directly followed the June 3 concerns and preserved time for the applicant to prepare responses on the outstanding zoning, environmental, safety, and noise questions.

How it unfolded
Accepted Marmon Utility LLC site plan amendment as complete after discussion of zoning compliance with 2012 ZBA decision, wetland contamination from plastic bead spills, bollard protection, and noise from unloading systems; board requested further research and applicant responses on these issues.
2026-06-03Planning Board
Granted applicant's request to continue PZ20038-050826 (Marmon Utility LLC) to August 5 at 7 PM with statutory deadlines waived.
2026-07-01Planning Board
Arguments against
Relocation may violate 2012 ZBA decision requiring all operations to remain internal to the structure.
planning-board 2026-06-03
Against
Outdoor silos create risk of plastic bead spills contaminating nearby wetlands.
planning-board 2026-06-03
Against
Exterior silos require physical protection such as bollards to prevent vehicle impacts.
planning-board 2026-06-03
Against
Pressurized air unloading systems may generate high-pitched noise affecting neighbors unless mitigated by mufflers or enclosed structures.
planning-board 2026-06-03
Against
What's next

Hearing continued to August 5 at 7 PM.

Marmon Utilitysilo relocationwetlandnoise