The Concerned Residents Coalition (CRC) wants an assurance that Guelph-Eramosa council can refuse a zoning application for a proposed quarry near Rockwood if the proponent does not adequately address all technical concerns from residents and the municipality.
“I would probably suggest, yes,” Mayor Chris White told CRC officials last week.
Township planning advisor Mike Davis, of Cuesta Planning Consultants, confirmed all technical questions “must be addressed” by James Dick Construction officials.
About 30 members of the newly-formed CRC came to the April 15 council meeting with a number of concerns about a pit proposed for the northeast corner of 6th Line and Highway 7, east of Rockwood.
James Dick Construction is seeking a licence from the MNR and a zoning bylaw amendment from the township, that together will pave the way for the extraction of two million tonnes (700,000 annually) of sand, gravel and dolostone at the 39 hectare (100 acre) property.
Doug Tripp and Elisabeth Crha, representing the CRC as a delegation before council, asked a number of questions of the township and relayed numerous concerns, including:
– possible fracturing of the aquifer as a result of blasting at the site;
– ensuring the application remains an open and public process; and
– ensuring haul routes from the quarry will not go through Rockwood.
White and Davis said they will do everything in their power to get answers for residents and to ensure James Dick employees stick to the proposed haul route.
“We will take input on this issue up until we take a vote,” said White. He later added, “We want this [process] open and transparent all the way through.”
Davis said James Dick will be required to address all concerns and their responses will be taken to township engineer R.J. Burnside and Associates officials, who must then “sign off” on those issues.
White said when it comes time for a decision, council will again move its meeting to the Rockmosa hall in Rockwood to accommodate all the residents who will want to witness the zoning decision.
Councillors Doug Breen and John Scott apologized to residents and CRC members for not responding to every email they have received about the quarry proposal, noting there have been too many to send personal replies.
White, who previously stated he receives daily correspondence on the proposal, last week said he has never before received as many emails and calls on one particular issue.
