CONSTRUCTION IMPACT ON PROPERTIES

A growing concern for property owners along 131 is the type of equipment being used that causes considerable vibrations and noise, and appears to have had some impact on at least three properties.

At last night’s Select Board (SB) meeting-June 14- this issue was discussed at length.

Selectmen Stephen Plunkard, a Cavendish Village homeowner and landscape architect, noticed sand pouring into the stone basement of his house when the interstate highway rollers were being used. The mortar between the stones had turned to sand and was being pushed out by the vibrations. Consequently, he had a list of questions for his fellow board members:

• Was there a public hearing to discuss the scope, duration and cost of the project? If so, were notes taken and any actions recommended?

• Was there a publicly warned preconstruction meeting? If so, was the historic character and liabilities of the villages discussed?

·• Was there a cost benefit analysis performed to determine the advantages to using larger highway construction equip versus smaller more appropriate road construction equipment?

• Was there a pre-construction assessment of the historic buildings in both villages ever carried out? Was the existing condition of buildings along the roadway ever examined and documented?

• Would it be possible to process a change order to possibly downsize the size of the equipment used to the densely populated villages and only use the larger size equipment for the open highway stretches of Route 131? If so, what would be the cost and benefit to village property owners in terms of time and money?

• Was traffic calming in the villages given the same considerations as to widening the road in the villages? Are any traffic calming measures being considered in the village areas at all.

• Is Route 131 a designated east-west designated truck route, if so, who decided it, and when was it decided? Was the Town consulted?

Plunkard has submitted letters to the editor of local newspapers on this topic stating, For many families living in the villages their equity in the homes represents the largest portion of their net worth…If the property will no longer pass a home inspection or needs extensive and expensive repairs before it can be disposed of it is essentially cash out of the pocket of the owners or inheritors.

This past weekend, the Cavendish Historical Society (CHS) conducted a house by house survey of the two villages in order to provide information to Pike Industries and VTrans on the age, historical significance and potential impact of the current 131 road construction on these properties.

There are three structures that are listed on the National Historic Registry- the Cavendish Universalist (Stone) Church, the Cavendish Historical Society Museum and the Castle Hill Resort & Spa. In addition, Cavendish has a number of snecked ashlar buildings (stone houses), most built in the 1840s, including two by the famous architect Lucious Paige-Glimmerstone and Hickernell House. There are also a number of Victorian houses, some built as early as 1869, as well as examples of Queen Ann, Georgian, and Gothic architecture.

By walking from property to property, it was possible to observe that a number of these places, while substantially modified over the years, are sitting on stone foundations. In addition, the remains of horse barns, slate roofs and chimneys indicates that a high percentage of both village properties have been here for over 100 years with a number considerably longer.

This survey has been shared with Pike Industries and VTrans with the recommendation that the villages be declared “No vibration zones” so different equipment can be used. The following e-mail was received today from Natalie Boyle of VTrans, “Vtrans is working with Pike on these locations and potential issues/impacts and I was told that they drove both Cavendish and Proctorsville yesterday and are working on an appropriate plan of action that still ensures proper construction of the roadway.”

While using larger highway equipment can save money and time, the potential damage to homes and historic structures could far outweigh its use. Pike Industries recognizes this and has submitted a change order to create a “no vibrations zone,” for the villages which would allow equipment to be used that minimizes the potential for damage.

VTrans will be making the decision to allow that change in the next seven days. During that time, no work will be done in the villages.

Those with property along 131 would be wise to take time dated pictures and keep an eye on foundations, chimneys etc.