JDCL confirms purchase of 200 acres adjacent to Hidden Quarry at LPAT Hearing
Guelph-Eramosa Township…The Local Planning Appeals Tribunal (LPAT) has completed its first week of a predicted eight-week Hearing on the Hidden Quarry application by James Dick Construction Limited (JDCL). The first Party to present evidence is JDCL. The Concerned Residents Coalition (CRC) and Halton Region are also Parties at the Hearing, opposing the application for re-zoning and an aggregate licence.
In arguing the need for dolomite stone, Greg Sweetnam, Vice President and spokesperson for JDCL, stated that “we just need some approvals” and that he believes that aggregate operations are “benign.” Under cross examination by CRC’s lawyer Chris Barnett, Sweetnam confirmed that the company “has control of” 200 acres of farmland, woodlands and wetlands on 6th Line Eramosa in the Paris-Galt Moraine, directly opposite the proposed Hidden Quarry site and bordering on the town of Rockwood. CRC has expressed concern over the past 6 years that the Hidden Quarry would be the first of many in the area. The land now controlled by JDCL includes a heritage stone house, a log cabin and a collection of 19th century barns restored by the previous owner, who is now deceased.
The first week of evidence also included testimony from JDCL experts: Robert Stovel (Planning and Agriculture); Kim Nystrom (Traffic impact and Haul Routes); Gerry Forbes (Traffic Safety) and Brian Sulley (Air Quality). In cross examination Halton Region and CRC lawyers were able to confirm that to date none of the experts had consulted with local residents or considered social impacts. In addition, the Air Quality study did not take into account the increased number of haulage trucks projected in the most recent JDCL study.
The second week of the Hearing will begin with testimony from JDCL’s noise assessment expert Robert Rimrott, and blasting expert, Robert Cyr.
The Hearing is being held at the Guelph Eramosa Township Office at 8348 Wellington Road 124, Monday through Friday, from 9:30 am to 4:45 pm, excluding Friday, June 14 and Friday, June 28.
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