Zoning Board Schedules Appeal for Pond View Violation

The East Providence Zoning Board scheduled an appeals hearing regarding the  aimed at controversial recycling facility TLA/Pond View during its Wednesday night meeting. The appeal will be heard on Sept. 15 at 7 pm at City Hall and will feature testimony from the company's legal representatives and possibly neighboring residents.

In a phone interview early Thursday afternoon, East Providence Zoning Officer Edward Pimental spoke of the process to date.

"This is a first notice of violation, which calls on the company to cease any [activities] that brought on the violation to begin with," Pimental said.

As for the anticipation of neighboring residents providing counter testimony against Pond View at the Sept. 15 appeals hearing, Pimental said that the issue of whether or not residents can speak is ultimately up to the board.

"If someone wants to speak, I'm obligated to put it on the docket," he said. "Then it will be up to the board whether or not they will hear testimony and whether or not the public can speak or if they need to council to speak on their behalf. It's up to the board."

Pimental added that he and others will be open to hearing such requests. 

Much is riding on the Sept. 15 appeals hearing for those who have previously and its practices. A  which passed the state legislature now requires companies like Pond View obtain approval from their host municipalities through zoning. It also limits the processing of companies like Pond View to 150 tons a day, if operations occur within 1,000 feet of a residential neighborhood.

If Pond View's appeal before the zoning board were unsuccessful, the bill could easily be used to justify the company's return to 150 tons a day, up from its steady ascension to an eventual 1,500 tons per day, .