Economic impact study expected in quarry process

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Published on Wednesday, 20 August 2014 17:58

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Guelph-Eramosa council will have an economic impact study and a haul route study done as part of a rezoning application for the hidden quarry proposed by James Dick Construction near here.

Those were the two main issues raised at a public meeting attended by more than 200 people on Aug. 12 at the Rockmosa Community Centre. The meeting was called to hear the preliminary findings of the township’s planner on the hidden quarry zoning application.

The controversial quarry being proposed by company, which is seeking an aggregate licence from the Ministry of Natural Resources and a zoning amendment from Guelph-Eramosa council that will allow it to proceed with the pit expected to produce about 700,000 tonnes annually of sand, gravel and dolostone. The planned quarry would cover about 25 hectares (61 acres) of the 39 hectare (100 acre) property at the northeast corner of the 6th Line and Highway 7.

None of the speakers at the public meeting was in support of the plan with several coming from  the Concerned Residents Coalition (CRC) made up of about 700 residents living near the site and in the township who have opposed the quarry. The CRC has hired a number of outside experts to challenge the findings of engineering firms hired by the construction company and working for the ministry. Among the issues raised by the ministry. Among the issues raised by the CRC was a call for an economic impact study.

The issue, which has been ongoing for about a year and a half, also prompted council to switch its consulting firm in April. Council replaced Cuesta Planning Consultants with  Macaulay Shiomi Howson (MSH) Ltd. because township officials said reports about the quarry were not being delivered back to council in a “timely” manner.

MSH planner Elizabeth Howson said an economic impact study was not considered because information indicated the quarry would have a limited impact on the surrounding area. Under the provincial policy statement an economic impact study is not required if the development is deemed too small.“If there was going to be a substantive economic impact we would not be recommending this operation,” she said.

The CRC has argued the quarry would have an impact on housing values and farm operations nearby. The group has also contended the quarry would have a negative impact on air and water quality and is located on porous bedrock which would be damaging to the environment.

Mayor Chris White said after he had consulted with councillors and decided an economic impact study will be done. The cost of the study would likely be paid by the construction company.

“I would like to see an economic study done and I would like to see that done immediately,” he told the Advertiser.

The mayor also raised concern about the potential of an Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) hearing into the matter, which he expects is likely to happen. According to White an OMB hearing would likely be based on concrete facts surrounding the quarry and not about whether house prices would be impacted.

White said the issues brought forward at the meeting will be discussed at the next council meeting as additions to the study process.

Howson said the review is about “75 per cent” complete.

White said the plan would be to have a completed planner’s report by early next year to allow council to make a decision on the rezoning by the end of February.  The process would also include a “cut-off point” for more information, likely in September.

By Kris Svela
Published in The Wellington Advertiser, Aug. 15, 2014

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