Halton Crushed Stone (HCS) says it has completed all the required peer reviews, addressed public concerns and is ready to move on with its application to expand its gravel pit.
HCS appeared before council on Dec. 12 to provide an update on its plans to extend its pit north on both sides of the 10th Line, south of Wellington Road 52.
HCS is applying for an official plan amendment (OPA) for one portion of its northward expansion (southwest of the 10th Line) that is already zoned for aggregate extraction, and an OPA and zoning amendment for the other portion of the expansion (northeast of the 10th line).
The expansion would add 150 acres to the existing pit.
Land use planner James Parkin of MHBC Planning, speaking for HCS, said the application was made in spring 2016, a public meeting was held in November 2016, and in 2017 HCS worked on responding to peer reviews of the technical documents.
“Several peer reviews have been completed, they’ve either confirmed the conclusions that were made originally or they made recommendations for additional mitigation, additional controls on the proposed operation that Halton Crushed Stone has agreed to,” he said.
According to the HCS document, peer reviews, public comments and agency feedback led to 13 adjustments to the application:
– in response to concerns about the proximity of the pit extension to a subdivision and other houses, HCS is proposing to double the extraction setbacks in the northwest corner nearest the subdivision and the northeast corner on Concession 11;
– revised berm heights along Wellington Road 52;
– increased mix of coniferous trees and shrubs along Wellington Road 52 to be planted within a year of the licence issuance;
– processing is prohibited within 700m of the subdivision;
– acoustic audit will be performed within one year of extraction commencing in phase one;
– aggregate extraction and processing is limited to 7am to 7pm on weekdays only;
– stockpile heights in phase one will be limited to 15 metres;
– a maximum of 60,000 tonnes of unprocessed recycled material will be allowed on site at one time. A 100,000 tonne limit will be in place on the amount of processed recycled materials that may be shipped from the site annually;
– implementation of a dust management plan to help ensure dust is effectively controlled at the Erin pit and that potential impacts to nearby residents are minimized;
– implementation of a trucking policy that will apply to all trucks hauling aggregate from the Erin pit;
– provide annual water level monitoring data to the town in accordance with the peer reviewer’s recommendation;
– the pit will operate in accordance with a fueling and spills plan to help ensure safe fueling procedures and practices are followed, and that appropriate actions are taken in the event of an accident or spill; and
– in addition to requirements under the Endangered Species Act, the provisions for creating and maintaining species at risk habitat will be outlined on the Aggregate Resources Act Site Plans for both the proposed extension and existing Erin pit.
“We think the application is ready to move forward in the decision making stages, the agency reviews are done, the internal reviews are complete, the peer review recommendations have been agreed to,” said Parkin.
“From our standpoint there has been a good dialogue in the community that wants to engage with Halton Crushed Stone on this. All that has resulted in an updated application, additional information being provided.”
Mayor Allan Alls asked about backup beepers on trucks during early morning hours.
“What (HCS) is proposing to do is have strobe lights [when] it’s dark enough in the early morning hours … to serve as an alternative to the backup beepers,” said Parkin.
Councillor Rob Smith said having operations over the dinner hour may be “annoying” to neighbours.
“The 7pm (guideline) is from the town’s bylaw and it’s also a (Ministry of Environment and Climate Change) guideline as a maximum,” said Parkin.
Pit manager Kelly Gibson said the operating hours close at 4:30pm.
Councillor Jeff Duncan asked if HCS would consider a sunset clause.
“It would be for phase one if you do not have the aggregate out by a particular date, the rehabilitation is going to start immediately,” he said. “This would give the idea to the community and town council that if phase one is going to go ahead, it will have a date that it is going to cease and the rehabilitation will commence.”
Council accepted the presentation as information.
Councillor Matt Sammut declared a conflict due to the proximity to his property.
