MEMORANDUM

To: Mayor Rawn and Members of Council

Copy: Ms. Diana Georgie

From: Chris Jones MCIP, RPP

Date: Spetember 8, 2008

Re: Proposed Zoning Amendment by Fowler Construction

Our File No: 3560

On July 22, 2008, Council held a public meeting for a zoning amendment for a Below Water Table Quarry. The proposed amendment affects about 50 hectares of land located in Part Lots 13 and 14, Concession 9 and 10 in the Township of Strong.

Council is aware that this meeting attracted 130 citizens and about 15 written submissions. Generally speaking, the concerns raised at the public meeting included, but were not limited to:

• Groundwater impacts and impacts to existing water supplies;
• Blasting impacts including noise and physical impacts;
• Suitability of buffers;
• Impacts on natural features and animal migration routes through the area;
• Impacts on the TCP Corridor;
• Concerns about the prior burial of contaminated animal carcasses on site;
• Changes to surface drainage;
• Odour and dust migration;
• Impacts on land values;
• Traffic impacts;
• Need for the quarry.

While we believe the public meeting was helpful in providing the public and the applicant with an early opportunity to present and discuss this proposal, it is clear that there is additional hydrogeological and environmental work to be completed by the proponent. In addition, there is a need for the proponent to submit an application to the Ministry of Natural Resources in accordance with the Aggregate Resources Act (ARA).

The Township has already collaborated with the MNR on this application and in our opinion, the ARA licensing process could assist the Municipality in scoping and resolving many of the issues that were raised at the public meeting. On this basis it is recommended that the Township take no further action until the proponent submits an application to the MNR thereby allowing the Township to collaborate with applicable MNR staff in order to further discuss and potentially resolve technical issues that were raised at the public meeting.

Should you have any questions or require anything further, do not hesitate to call me at extension 224.

-Original Signed By-

Chris D. Jones MCIP, RPP