Prince Edward County council will delay any decision on Official Plan amendments to allow 35 acres of farm property at 1202 Ridge Road to be turned in to a sand and gravel pit.
The property owners, the Greer family, have applied for rezoning so the project can be finally approved and regulated by the Ministry of Natural Resources under the Aggregate Resources Act. Much of the land is now used to grow asparagus.
County planning staff is recommending approval of the application however approximately 10 residents of the area spoke against the proposed sand/gravel pit at a planning meeting last night (Wednesday).
The mayor of Prince Edward County Steve Ferguson made a motion to delay any decision until September 10.
Residents, many of whom belong to the Waring Creek Improvement Association, worry about water quantity and quality if an aggregate pit is developed.
The applicant says all of the extraction will stay above the water table in the area.
Many who commented said they’d received over 300 pages of information on the pit application last Friday and hadn’t had nearly enough time to take it all in.
If approved by the MNR, the pit could only produce the minimum licensed amount which is 20,000 tonnes per year.
The pit could remain in operation from between 40 and 75 years, depending on amounts actually extracted.
