SULLIVAN, NH (MyKeeneNow)  A proposal to expand a gravel pit on Nims Hill, just off Route 9 in Sullivan, has sparked concern among residents ahead of a public hearing Tuesday.
The hearing, hosted by the Sullivan Zoning Board of Adjustment, will address a request by G2 Holdings, LLC, based in Jaffrey, for a Zoning Special Exception under a Sullivan Community Planning Ordinance article which governs the removal of natural materials. If approved, the project would allow the excavation and blasting of bedrock over a multi-year timeframe, significantly altering the landscape of Nims Hill.
According to the zoning board notice issued April 8, the hearing is intended to both accept the application and allow abutters and interested residents to express views, raise concerns, and ask questions about the proposed operation.
Regional Impact Raises Concerns
The proposed excavation area sits directly across from the Granite Gorge ski area and straddles the Sullivan-Keene border. A prior presentation to the zoning board on April 2 described the operation as lasting “about two years,” though project documents and public comments suggest the full scope could last 13 years or longer.
Nearby landowners—including major abutter Jim Manley, who owns over 100 acres along the project boundary—have voiced opposition, citing concerns about blasting noise, water contamination, property damage, wildlife disruption, and potential acid mine drainage affecting nearby streams and wells.
“This is a very serious regional activity with potentially permanent consequences to the character of Nims Hill and the entrance to Keene,” said Manley in a statement. “The public deserves full transparency before a project of this magnitude is allowed to move forward.”
Environmental and Visual Impact
Photos submitted by residents and environmental assessments show that the current operation is already visible from Route 9. Critics warn that if the expansion proceeds, the southern slope of Nims Hill—once praised in local histories for its natural beauty—could be replaced with a 300-foot ledge, permanently altering the scenic viewshed.
Of particular concern is the proximity of Otter Brook, a tributary of the protected Ashuelot River, which flows below the proposed site. An Acid Mine Drainage Potential Report included in the application flagged possible leaching of heavy metals such as arsenic and lead from disturbed bedrock into surface and groundwater.
Residents are also calling for more complete data on nearby wells, blasting schedules, and long-term monitoring and indemnification plans—none of which, they say, have been fully addressed by the applicant.
Public Input Encouraged
The zoning board has emphasized that public input is welcome and valuable. While attendance is not required, the board encourages all abutters and concerned residents to attend the hearing to ensure that community perspectives are heard and recorded before any decision is made.
The Sullivan Town Hall is located at 452 Centre Street, and the hearing will begin promptly at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 15.
Another hearing on the same project is scheduled for Tuesday, May 27 at Keene City Hall, where the Keene Planning Board will take up related permit requests.