A public forum is planned for St. John’s Anglican Church to discuss a controversial quarry rezoning application.
The forum, set for May 10, is being organized by interim priest Father Marcus Germaine after he was approached by two parishioners about the proposed quarry before Guelph- Eramosa council.
James Dick Construction is seeking an aggregate licence from the MNR as well as a zoning amendment from Guelph-Eramosa Township that will allow the company to proceed with the proposed pit, which is expected to produce about 700,000 tonnes annually of sand, gravel and dolostone.
The quarry would cover about 25 hectares (61 acres) of the 39 hectare (100 acre) James Dick property at the northeast corner of 6th Line and Highway 7.
It is being met with stiff opposition from the Concerned Residents Coalition (CRC), which has been making regular appeals to council based on concerns about conflicting engineering reports related to the quarry.
The CRC says water monitoring and the type of bedrock found under the site need more study after engineering companies working for the proponent, MNR and township reached different conclusions.
Germaine said a public forum will allow residents to hear both sides of the issues surrounding the quarry.
The forum will be 2 to 4pm on May 10 at the church, which can accommodate slightly more than 100 people.
