Council here appears sympathetic to a proposal for a food processing plant that would feed people in the Third World – but it wants its rules and regulations followed, too.
Representatives of Christian Aid Ministries of Waterloo were at council on March 13 to apply for a zone change for lands in Moorefield.
The group wants to put a food processing plant into an old hardware and building supply store. The two adjoining parcels are located at 16 Maudsley Street and Parkview Drive.
County planner Mark Van Patter, working on behalf of the township, told council such plants require a zone change.
The group plans to dehydrate vegetables, package and then send them overseas to feed the poor. He added the rezoning application includes permitting a Christian bookstore.
Van Patter said in a written report to council he and chief building official David Kopp met with the applicants in late January. He offered the following information about the proposal:
– about 200 gallons of water used per day;
– about 4,000 to 7,000 pounds of vegetables processed per day;
– hours of operation with volunteers cutting vegetables would be 8am to 1pm;
– dehydration would take place 8:30am to 4:30pm;
– 30 to 60 volunteers at the plant between Monday and Friday;
– waste water from washing vegetables goes into a separating basin and then to the storm sewer system;
– chopped vegetables would be shredded and dehydrated;
– they would then be packed into two kilogram bags and shipped; and
– the dehydration unit is fairly small and would be located in the main building at the northwest corner, away from neighbouring homes.
Van Patter added the book store would be in the former Harron’s Rona store, as would the head office.
Van Patter said proposed renovations to the main building include demolishing 8,000 square feet and adding another 12,000 square feet. The small leans and the built-in highway trailer along the south lot line would be removed. The narrow shed west of the main building would be removed, and the applicants planned to do some grading.
Van Patter said meat and food processing ventures are specifically prohibited in township bylaws in order to give councils a say in any of those types of businesses. He said his main concern is the water usage.
Councillor Mike Downey said he would like a better explanation of the amount of water to be used.
John Martin, of RR2 Morriston, is the spokesman for the Christian Aid Ministries of Waterloo. He said his group is copying the operation of Ontario Christian Gleaners, of Cambridge. He said he is “not comfortable” being locked in to a water use agreement.
When Downey asked why, Martin said it is because water use might depend on the dirtiness of the vegetables being processed.
Mayor Bruce Whale said it is possible the group could recycle the water it uses “if we give you a target.”
He explained the concern is more about water going into the system. If the business uses up too much of the septic system, it cuts down on other development opportunities and makes running the sewage lagoon system more expensive.
Martin said his group has not explored those concerns yet.
Van Patter said he wonders “if the applicants can do more homework.” He suggested the group should get the details on water. “Otherwise it’s difficult for council to get a handle on it.”
Public works director Larry Lynch said if it is just soil in the water, the group might be able to send it to a storm ditch. But, he added, he wants to be sure where it is going to run, and suggested an engineer might be able to help determine that.
Lynch said at this point, he is not even sure from which building the water would be leaving. He had concerns with the asphalt there, and his concerns are “not just water for washing, but for discharge.”
Van Patter told Martin the township appears to have no problem with the proposal, but has concerns about the water.
Councillor Neil Driscoll asked if there is a private well on the property. He noted if the group had its own well, it would not strain the water system.
But clerk Patty Sinnamon said that well was likely decommissioned because it is in the Moorefield study area and everyone was forced to tie into the municipal water and sewer system.
Whale said if the water volume being used is close to Van Patter’s report, it might be okay, but going well over that is not.
“That may be the stickler,” Whale said. “We’re in support of what you do.”
Lynch said the storm sewer empties into a creek, but, “ultimately, we want to know where the water is going.”
As for the bookstore that is not permitted in an industrial zone, Downey noted Harron’s Rona also sold books.
Van Patter, too, saw that as a minor issue.
Whale said council should focus on the main part of the application for now, but Downey said it might be easiest to get the book store issue out of the way.
Sinnamon said the zoning for it would have to be site specific.
Council then deferred the issue until it receives more information on the water issues. Councillor Jim Curry was absent.
