Municipality continues to seek ways to move mountain of topsoil in Drayton

The search continues for a solution to a massive mound of topsoil bordering the backyards of several homes in a subdivision here.

Public works director Larry Lynch advised Mapleton council at its May 14 meeting that he has discussed the situation in the Drayton Heights subdivision with Peter Armbruster, chief operating officer of subdivision developer Activa Holdings.

A number of Drayton Heights residents have been living with what councillor Andy Knetsch has described as “a mountain of topsoil” along  their backyards since 2007.

Council wants Activa to consider solutions, but recently supported the developer’s request for a five-year extension of draft plan approval on the subdivision.

Final approval of the extension rests with the County of Wellington.

Lynch said Armbruster is willing to consider the idea of giving the topsoil away to those willing to haul it out, however he conceded the material isn’t high quality fill.

Armbruster estimates the pile contains about 40,000 cubic metres of material and can’t be easily moved.

“It did cost about $100,000 to put it there and it will cost about $100,000 to move it,” Lynch said. “That wasn’t a very good financial option for them.”

Lynch stated he would continue discussions with the company about the problem.

“I’ll stay on it the best I can,” said Lynch.

Later at the May 14 meeting, councillor Jim Curry provided notice of intent to introduce a motion that would require the developer to present a “detailed plan” for removing topsoil before any further building permits are issued for Drayton Heights.

A total of 46 detached and 10 semi-detached lots remain in the subdivision draft plan. Future registrations are contingent on additional capacity being allocated in Drayton by the Ministry of Environment.

“I’m getting calls on this from the public. It’s to the point where windows are getting broken,” said Curry.

Curry told the Community News he has received numerous complaints about the situation from subdivision residents, including one caller who said a window in their home had been damaged by a piece of material from the topsoil mound.

He said the caller didn’t clarify “how it was propelled.”

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