Planning Board Presses Trucking Firm Over Complaints

Planning Board · Meeting of September 9, 2026

Hatfield Planning Board presses a North Hatfield Road trucking firm over fuel tank and lighting complaints. Building Inspector Jim Hawkins, in his first meeting with the board, said most abutter complaints against Western Earthworks stemmed from construction activity predating its certificate of occupancy, but acknowledged open questions on a roughly 2,000-gallon fuel tank lacking confirmed fire department sign-off and an unshielded door light, calling the fix "about a $65 fix." Owner Jack, who said his company employs 35 workers, told the board, "My biggest concern listening to these complaints is I'm going to grow my business." Members agreed they lack enforcement authority and referred the matter to the zoning enforcement officer under a 30-day statutory response window. Separately, consultant Wayne Feiden walked the board through a subdivision-regulations rewrite, and members adopted a twice-monthly meeting schedule, with a working session set for Monday, September 14.

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Source: the Planning Board meeting of September 9, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.