Several Guelph-Eramosa residents and the township’s planner are wary of a proposal for an animal crematorium southwest of Guelph, but the proponent says there is no cause for concern.
“I struggled a lot with this one,” said township planner Bernie Hermsen of MHBC Planning.
He explained there are no real planning concerns with the property, which is located on Wellington Road 124 about half way between Whitelaw Road and Wellington Road 32.
“If you’re going to do it, it’s in the right zone,” Hermsen said. He noted the 8 acre property is already zoned industrial but requires a site specific zoning exception.
However, the planner told council he is concerned with a lack of information about any possible odour or emissions that might come from the Pets Above Ltd. operation.
Hermsen said if the township proceeds to a public meeting without those details, “People are going to ask certain questions that I can’t answer.”
His firm attempted to get more information from the Ministry of the Environment, but he said the ministry has not been very cooperative.
That creates a “chicken and egg” scenario, Hermsen said, as the ministry will not provide the required certificate of approval without the township agreeing to the site specific zone change – while the township would like some environmental details before approving the zone change.
Councillor Doug Breen said it is the township’s job to hold the public meeting and the onus for providing technical information is on Pets Above Ltd.
President Kyle Crawford said pollutants and odour are MOE issues and not the township’s.
He said none of the other businesses in the area requiring an MOE certificate were asked to submit an emissions study to the municipality.
“It’s so hot in the crematorium there are no odours,” added Crawford.
He said he intends to properly store dead animals before they are cremated and is also required to install a $30,000 system to monitor emissions.
Mayor Chris White said it is not the township’s intent to take over the MOE’s role, but the interest in emissions and possible odours were prompted by inquiries from residents. White told Crawford he should be prepared to answer those questions at a public meeting.
Breen said as long as their are no other problems identified at the meeting, the township could simply approve the application on the condition that the business gets a certificate of approval from the MOE.
Council agreed to proceed with a public meeting, which will likely be set for sometime next month.
