Council has given the green light for a proposed gravel pit on two abutting 100 acre properties owned by members of the same family.
The parcels are owned by Laverne and Marlene Ferguson and David and Dianne Ferguson.
Ron Davidson, planner for the proponents, told council the plan requires ministry of natural resources (MNR) licensing before it can move ahead and rezoning of the property to allow for the pit which was approved by council Aug. 13.
“The licence process began about nine months ago which included a public meeting,” Davidson said.
No opposition has been expressed to the planned pit that will see maximum extraction of 75,000 tonnes annually, Davidson said.
The property sits between concessions four and six in the former Arthur township and sideroad 2E and 3E.
The gravel would be removed from an existing esker ridge and licence area would take up 22 acres with extracation coming from a 16 acre portion.
Road access would be Concession 4 with haul routes running 50 percent to the north and 50 percent to the south.
It is expected a total of one million tonnes would be taken from the site and would generate 1.6 trucks per hour on a 30 week per year operating basis.
Five to 12 meters of sand and gravel would be removed from the esker and would take place 1.5 meters above the water table.
Davidson said the work would take up about a third of the area at any given time and any overburden removed would be put back in a rehabilitation process.
“Rehabilitation is done as we go,” Davidson said.
Township planner Mark Van Patter described the development as “small,” and indicated no concerns with it.
“The pit licence cannot be issued by the MNR until the township zoning permits the use,” Van Patter said.
Council approved the rezoning.
