Guelph-Eramosa Township has approved an expansion and improvement of storm water management for the City of Guelph’s snow disposal facility on township land.
The facility, located at 7263 Wellington Road 124, is owned by the City of Guelph and abuts the city’s border.
On July 10, 2017, Guelph-Eramosa CAO Ian Roger said usage of the township property as a snow dump facility was only brought to the township’s attention when the city applied to expand.
“The lands are zoned agricultural but it doesn’t permit a community service facility in the agricultural zone, so that’s essentially what the purpose (is) of the zoning bylaw amendment,” township planning consultant Dan Currie said at the June 25 council meeting.
The zoning bylaw amendment includes:
– permitted uses:
– an outdoor snow disposal facility;
– temporary storage of excess soils;
– temporary outdoor storage of materials generated through normal forestry practice;
– temporary outdoor storage of materials generated through horticultural practices; and
– temporary storage of materials collected by street sweeping.
Regulations include a minimum setback from Wellington Road 124 of 10 metres.
“The proposed snow facility will include an asphalt pad for snow disposal, secure site access through an asphalt road that will connect to the existing gravel road to the north and a stormwater management system to treat snowfall,” Currie said in his report to council.
The site has been used for snow removal for about 30 years.
“Just so we’re clear for those who are following this along,” Mayor Chris White said. “You’re basically doing what you were doing before, you’re just cleaning it up.”
Noise issues were the main concern at the Sept. 5 public meeting.
“That was really the only factor that we identified through the process as needing some resolution,” Currie said.
“So the applicants revised the noise study; we’ve had them look at it, RJ Burnside has reviewed, and now that noise study and the additional new mitigation measures are addressing the noise satisfactorily.”
These noise issues would only come into play if a vacant property within the City of Guelph boundaries was developed into a four-storey apartment building.
“That’s really where the nub of the noise issues is,” Currie said.
“If it was ever built, those top two floors are high enough, they’re above the berm that the other mitigation measures are not going to reduce the noise enough (to meet zoning requirements).”
If an apartment is developed, the snow disposal facility could either reclassify its property to allow for higher noise thresholds or put in a number of controls to reduce the noise impact.
Currie said these are not required unless the apartment building is developed.
