Sig Sauer expansion moves ahead in Rochester, with some changes after neighbors complain

ROCHESTER — Sig Sauer, the firearms manufacturing giant, made revisions to its plans for additions to its plant at 7 Amarosa Drive after concerns raised by abutters to the property.

The city's Planning Board voted after a public hearing Monday night to accept Sig Sauer's application as complete, with several amendments prompted by neighbors, moving the project toward final approval. The project is helping Sig Sauer grow to accommodate a $4.5 billion contract from the U.S. Army to produce what it is calling the Next Generation Squad Weapons System, consisting of firearms and suppressors, which will be manufactured at the Rochester facility.

Sig Sauer spokesperson Samantha Piatt has previously said 100% of the government project is slated for the Rochester plant.

Brian Jones of Allen & Major Associates, Inc., explained Sig Sauer's plans for Phase II of the large expansion project. A public hearing followed, and several abutters spoke about parts they didn't like.

Phase II plans call for multiple building additions, updating utility connections, enhancing stormwater design and treatment, and tying into the municipal sewer system for the existing Sig Sauer facility. The plan included changes to the existing pavement areas to expand parking in the front of the facility, to add landscaping that was previously presented, and to allow lighting, fencing, and stormwater improvements.

One conditional use permit request was also approved for the project, which will allow Sig Sauer to expand a concrete pad by its loading dock at the rear of the building to safely accommodate tractor trailer trucks.

What residents say and how Sig Sauer reps respond

Maintaining privacy was the central concern of abutters who live on Cross Road.

Katherine Lloyd noted she was not opposed to Sig Sauer as a neighbor, noting she felt it was a good company that had brought employment to the city.

"I still have some concerns, particularly about the privacy fence," said Lloyd. "We are told there is to be a chain-link fence with barbed wire along the top. There is a wood fence existing, and I do not really want a chain link fence in my back yard. I do not want it to look like I live near a prison."

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Another Sig Sauer abutter, George Holmes, echoed her concerns about the fence. He had also filed a formal complaint with the city about noise coming from the facility.

"There is a sort of white noise from the property all the time," Lloyd said. "We get used to that but there is a machine on the property, that I call the green monster. It clicks, loudly."

Holmes said the machine is a vacuum system and is the basis for his noise complaint.

Rob Terrazzano, facilities manager for Sig Sauer in Rochester, said the green machine is a dust collector for pulse cleaning of filters at the facility. He acknowledged the noise, but no immediate solution was offered.

"Sig Sauer has expressed interest in buying properties on Cross Road," Holmes said. "What assurance can we get of privacy being protected for those of us who choose not to sell?"

Holmes also questioned the 8-foot chain link fence. A solution was proposed and accepted by the Planning Board.

"It should be possible to put up two fences, the chain-link fence and to maintain and even expand the stockade fencing on the abutters property line," said Jones.

Planning Board member David Walker noted he knew about defense contracts and understood the need for security, hence the chain-link fence. He said the proposal seemed a good compromise.

In response to other concerns raised by Holmes, Jones said they can move the snow dump area elsewhere. Holmes said the area was too close to a well on his property and he was concerned about salt getting into it.

This article originally appeared on Fosters Daily Democrat: Sig Sauer expansion advances in Rochester NH as neighbors speak out