OMB recommends province approve licence for gravel pit near Everett

by Brad Pritchard Alliston Herald

Nelson Aggregates has succeeded in its bid to develop a new gravel pit in Adjala-Tosorontio.

A written decision released Jan. 26 by the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) recommends the province issue the company a Class A aggregate licence to operate the pit at 5556 and 5670 County Rd. 13, just south of the community of Everett.

The licence is for a below water table operation that will allow up to one million tones to be extracted each year.

The 72.8-hectare site is located northwest of County Road 13 and 5 Sideroad.

The application was discussed at length during a series of OMB hearings held at the township office in November.

About two dozen people voiced concerns at the meeting, including councillors Floyd Pinto and Bob Meadows and residents who belong to Concerned Citizens of Adjala-Tosorontio.

Somerville Nurseries, Breedon’s Maple Syrup and Beausoleil First Nation also argued against the operation.

Overall, the board was satisfied with the comments and evidence experts presented at the meeting to show the operation wouldn’t have significant impacts to the environment, ground water or agricultural operations.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry and the Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority had initially filed objections over the application, but they were withdrawn prior to the hearing.

The humane society, which neighbours the property to the west, also withdrew its appeal once the company filed an amended operations plan.

The company agreed to relocate an internal haul road further away from the property line toward the middle of the site.

The pit will be developed in three stages over several years, with the first stage taking place south of Tosorontio Creek. From there, the operation will move northwards.

A processing plant will also be built at the property, but the operator will be required to build an acoustical wall around the building.

The haul route will be 5 Sideroad, east to County Road 13, south to Highway 89, and east or west from there.

The agreement with the township will include hours of operation and provisions to ensure roads are maintained, to protect ground water and dust/noise mitigation measures.

To read the full decision, click here.