Although Preston Sand and Gravel has agreed to “fix up” Concession 4 if its proposed gravel pit near Roszell Road is approved, Puslinch councillors are still concerned about the impact the pit will have on residents along the haul route.
“It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know those residents are going to be affected,” Mayor Brad Whitcombe said of people living on Concession 4.
He added even if the pit itself is approved, the company still has to transport the product, which is a major concern for the township.
“This is a tough site to get the aggregate to market,” Whitcombe said on July 2. “Peoples’ lives will be changed dramatically.”
The mayor also told the Preston delegation he is not overly impressed with the company’s attempts to communicate with and address the problems of residents.
The 36 letters sent to residents who voiced concerns at a public meeting in March – to which Preston received just six replies – is not sufficient, Whitcombe said.
He also noted there were a lot of “unanswered questions” at the meeting and told the delegation that, going forward, it needs to do more in the area of public consultation.
Councillor Dick Visser agreed.
“I still don’t know how you’re going to satisfy the social concerns of residents,” Visser said.
He also noted that a development agreement for road work on Concession 4, which was mentioned by the Preston delegation, made little sense prior to the pit itself receiving approval.
Whitcombe also asked how Preston will be addressing truck noise. Preston officials had previously stated that 120 to 300 trucks daily will be going in and out of the pit.
Sherry Yundt, who represents the company, said there are no Ministry of the Environment standards for truck noise, just for the pit operation itself.
However, Yundt noted the issue has been “addressed” by its noise expert.
Whitcombe said it is fine to say the issue has been addressed, but residents living in the area will want to know “how noisy” the truck traffic will be.
Rob Stovel, of Stovel and Associates, suggested Preston’s noise expert could write a letter to council explaining the expected noise levels.
Whitcombe agreed, and said “at the end of the day” the noise issue has to be addressed for residents on Concession 4.
