No decisions have been made on the newest gravel pit application in Wellington North.
County planner Mark Van Patter presented his report on the Stack Gravel Pit to council at a public meeting on Aug. 16.
The proposed pit at Concession 4N and Sideroad 2E has to go through three steps: an official plan amendment with the county, a zoning bylaw with the township and a licence application with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry.
Van Patter explained the purpose of the official plan amendment is to add a mineral aggregate area overlay designation to the almost 33 acres.
Owners Laverne and Erma Weber filed the pit licence application with the MNRF for an extraction area of around 11 hectares, with an annual extraction volume of 75,000 tonnes.
The proposed pit would maintain a distance of 1.5 metres above the ground water level and will operate 7am to 6pm Monday to Friday and 9am to 2pm on Saturday.
The site, which is one concession north of the Ghent Pit that was approved by council in January, is currently designated prime agricultural and core greenlands in the official plan.
Van Patter explained the site lies north of the sand and gravel resources identified in the official plan. However, he noted the applicants completed test hole excavation and lab analysis, which estimates 1 million metric tonnes of aggregate on the property.
He added the pit would add approximately three to four trucks per hour during peak season on Concession 4N.
A review of the cumulative impact of three area pits – Stack, Ghent and Ferguson pits – estimates 20 trucks per hour in peak season. The report notes both Highway 89 and Concession 4N are operating well below capacity.
Public comments
During the public commenting period, four individuals raised concerns about having a third gravel pit in a condensed area.
“We now have three pits with entries on 4th line,” said Gerald Booi. “This is within one block; this is not Aberfoyle, this is a small town.”
Joanne Booi said she was concerned about the safety of the gravel haul route. She brought up the resolution council passed in January that requires any future gravel pit operators using the haul route be apportioned a share of costs.
“I think this community deserves a road agreement in place before this pit application moves forward,” she said.
Brett McHugh added, “We should defer that (official plan amendment) based on this pit until after this road agreement’s in (place).”
McHugh also suggested the Saturday operation time be removed.
Bruce Fulcher, planner and agent for the Webers, said, “This site is a bit different in terms of most gravel pit applications. This pit has been requested to ultimately improve the productivity of the farmland.”
He said, “If you look at the traffic study, Concession 4N right now is operating at six per cent capacity based on the traffic study done in 2014 … I think we need to take a long hard look at whether paving is the solution.”
Council comments
Councillor Lisa Hern asked how the Webers planned to improve the land.
Fulcher explained they would be removing the knolls and valleys by removing the gravel.
“The topography of that land is not conducive for maximum yield,” he said.
Councillor Steve McCabe said that was surprising to hear.
“I found it interesting that you’re having a hard time farming it now when it’s been farmed for more than 100 years,” he said.
“The intent is to improve the yield,” said Fulcher.
“I have a really hard time believing that,” replied McCabe.
Mayor Andy Lennox said council has to focus on the issues it can influence to endorse or not endorse the official plan amendment.
“These types of applications are difficult for a council to deal with because we have a very limited scope of influence on these things … whether we personally or as a council would like it to proceed or not has little bearing on it,” Lennox said. “But we do have to address the issues as it relates to the planning act.”
However, Van Patter said he wanted to receive all agency comments first.
“We don’t have to be in a big rush,” he said.
