A proposed sand and gravel pit is going ahead despite one significant reservation.
Council in Prince Edward County approved a motion on Tuesday night at Shire Hall in a packed council chambers, amending the Official Plan and Zoning by-laws for a 35 acre piece of property at 1002 Ridge Road in Hallowell Ward.
Property owners, Paul and Sandi Greer, are hoping to create a sand and gravel pit.
The decision was moved to council’s September 10 meeting after the Planning Advisory Committee voted last month to defer the decision to a later date.
Six deputations were heard at the meeting regarding the proposed approval along with five residents in attendance in the audience who spoke.
Mayor Steve Ferguson spoke prior to the final vote and stated this has been a long and drawn out affair for both parties as this issue has been ongoing for two years.
He said no matter what council decides, someone will be mad but that staff had worked hard to address council’s and residents’ concerns.
Ferguson continued by saying he is comforted by the fact the farm is run by a longstanding, local family that has done their bit for the community and he couldn’t see any reason for this request to not be supported.
The property is currently used to grow asparagus but if the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry approves their Aggregate Resources Act application, the property will be turned into a sand and gravel pit that could produce up to 20,000 tonnes per year, the minimum licenced amount.
Most of the residents who spoke at the meeting at Shire Hall stated their concerns for the water quality and quantity, prompting councillors to seek an amendment to the approval motion asking for data logging in regards to water monitoring.
Acting CAO Robert McAuley said they could include data logging of the water table in their Adaptive Management Plan, but the MNRF has the final say in the application process and could completely ignore the municipality’s recommendations.
A lawyer representing the Greers was present at the meeting and told those in attendance that because of the length of time this application has taken, along with the cost, for a bit more money, the Greers could have applied for a Class A application.
Manager of Planning Paul Walsh agreed and stated data logging goes above and beyond the call of a Class B Category 7 application.
Walsh also said with the Adaptive Management Plan they would be better able to monitor fluctuations in regards to the water table.
The application requires sand and gravel extrication stop 1.5 meters above the water table.
Depending on the amounts extracted, the pit would be viable for between 40 and 75 years.
