PUSLINCH – Council here has approved a request by Dufferin Aggregates to extend its hours and months of operation – but with some conditions.
Dufferin Aggregate’s director of property approvals Kevin Mitchell made the request at the Oct. 18 council meeting.
The current agreement allows haulage to Aberfoyle Pit #2, at 4445 Victoria Road, from May 1 to Nov. 15, from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday.
Mitchell sought to extend the agreement to Dec. 15 and allow for a 7am start.
“When we finish production, we want to fill the yard and be ready when production starts in March,” he said.
Councillors wanted to be sure the road was left clean at the end of each day and any noise or road complaints from residents were addressed by the company.
Mitchell assured council the company uses a sweeper to clear the road of debris and that there is a complaint process.
“When we get a complaint, it goes up the pipe. It’s known internally,” he said.
Council was also concerned with trucks lining up along Victoria Road waiting to get into the site and also with vehicles lining up to make a left-hand turn onto Wellington Road 34.
Council decided to write a letter to Wellington County requesting a left-turn lane at that intersection to improve traffic flow.
Mitchell said there’s about five years left at the pit.
Because the company has made this request of council many years running, councillor Russel Hurst wondered if it was reasonable to extend the extra permissions for the next five years.
“If we get a multi-year agreement, I want assurance of compliance,” cautioned Mayor James Seeley.
“I think we can make this a five-year plan,” said councillor John Sepulis. “Get this through now and work on a four-year agreement.”
In the end, council decided to approve the extension, conditional on no trucks parking on Victoria Road.
It also directed staff to review the agreement with Dufferin Aggregates.
