BETHEL — Wednesday, March 2, is the deadline to file written questions about emissions and odors involving Bruce Manzer’s asphalt plant on North Road.

Manzer submitted a site plan application to the Planning Board last fall to relocate the plant to land he is buying diagonally across the road from the current site. The plant has been in operation for three years.

Questions for Manzer are to be sent to Vicki Rackliffe, the Planning Board’s planning assistant, at the town office. She will forward them to Manzer. He or his associates will answer them at the board’s meeting at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 9.

The decision was made Feb. 23 after an hours-long board meeting spent discussing emissions and odors with Manzer and his engineer, Steve Whipple of Woodard and Curran Inc. in Portland, according to the meeting minutes.

Last Thursday, citing “sensitivity” of the issues, board Chairman Allen Cressy declined to comment on the meeting. He deferred comment to Rackliffe, who instead provided a digital copy of the minutes.

The board also decided it must determine a methodology with which to develop and consider conditions of approval for Manzer’s project.

Based on those conditions and Manzer’s answers, the board will then approve or deny the application at its meeting Wednesday, March 23.

On Oct. 27, 2010, Manzer submitted a site plan application to relocate his working asphalt plant from the Richard and Grace Douglass property onto  land across the road.

At issue are perceived offensive odors identified as emanating from Manzer’s plant this past summer by abutters and business owners in Bethel’s Mayville neighborhood.

On Feb. 23, the board also considered three previously received petitions.

The first, with 223 signatures, asked the board to deny the asphalt plant.

The second petition had 43 signatures and stated the signers had experienced “offensive odors” last summer.

Twenty-three signed the third petition, stating they also noticed offensive odors then.

Initially, Chairman Cressy attempted to dismiss the petitions when talking with petitioner Gina Douglass, the Douglass’ daughter-in-law.

She previously testified, and again on Feb. 23 with others, that the odors she smelled were “very offensive” and could be smelled across town.

“In response to the petitions, I must remind you again that our charge is to review the application in light of the performance standards,” Cressy said.

“It’s not going to be based on whether 222 people feel that they don’t want the plant in town.”

Cressy then sought no further action on the petitions, “so that we can put that matter to bed.”

“I think we’ve recognized what those people who have signed the petitions want to say, but again we also need to recognize that in light of our charge, we can take no further action on those,” Cressy said.

However, fellow board member Jon Cowan disagreed. He considers the petitions relevant.

“I don’t think we can ignore that as evidence,” Cowan said.

Reiterating the second and third petitions, he said one of Bethel’s performance standards concerns offensive odors extending beyond the property lines of a project.

“It’s going to be hard for me to ignore 200 some odd signatures of my neighbors who are opposed to this thing,” Cowan said.

Cressy agreed in part, but called the petitions “anecdotal evidence.” Cowan disagreed.

Cressy then shifted discussion into determining performance standards. These will be used to ensure the project guarantees the demands of abutters and residents, but also protects Manzer’s plant from subjective complaints of odors.

That’s why Cressy wants the Maine Department of Environmental Protection involved.

Town code states that when the board determines odors will be a concern based on a project’s location and operation, it must find that the development cannot produce sensible harmful or offensive odors beyond the property lines.

Manzer shared his thoughts about his state-licensed plant which Whipple said has complied with state and federal standards.

“For three years of operation, there was one complaint from a woman north of us. One,” Manzer said. “The minute we decide to move across the road it means it could be an ugly beast that kills women and children?”

The board later determined odor would be a problem and had Whipple and Manzer explain the asphalt process, focusing on emissions, odors and mitigation.

“I’ve said since the first day that my intent is to be a good neighbor and I meant every word of that,” Manzer later said.

tkarkos@sunjournal.com