• Protecting Water and Farmland in Simcoe County

Proposed Rezoning Application from Agricultural to Small Scale Industrial Uses

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In Council Watch
Jun 14th, 2021
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May 25, 2021
Letter by Elisa Martelli, Licensed Paralegal, B.A. Hons.

Dear Sir/Madame:

Re: Proposed Rezoning Application from Agricultural to Small Scale Industrial/Commercial Uses 5520 2nd Line, New Tecumseth (2nd Line West of 15th Sideroad) File No. DEV 395

I am writing to you regarding the current rezoning application brought with respect to the above-mentioned property. The application before the Town is to rezone what is currently deemed as Agricultural (A2) to Small Scale Industrial and Commercial use. The proposed plan would have 3 to 4 employees. Heavy equipment stored onsite will include cranes, forklifts, loaders and excavators. The type of vehicles that will visit the site will be flatbeds, dump and roll-off trucks and pick-up trunks. According to the documentation submitted to the Town there could be 4 to 6 pick-up trucks, 1-2 flatbeds, dump and roll soft trucks, 1-2 forklifts, loaders and excavators, 4-5 cranes. Materials stored will include
scaffolding, shoring jacks, planks and other materials used in concrete forming. The repair of equipment will range from small saws and drills to large tower cranes. Parking area will be for employees and commercial vehicles. As you may be aware this area is within the Well Head Protection Area (WHPA-Q2), Highly Vulnerable Aquifer (HVA) and Significant Groundwater Recharge Area (SGRA). Any type of industrial type of work may cause a significant threat to the drinking water. My family and I are greatly concerned about the short- and long-term environmental impacts this may have to the immediate neighbours and the neighbourhood as a whole. We are particularly concerned that the chemical residue may pollute the well water located near the site. We have a well on our property and there will be others in the surrounding area as well. As a preventative measure the Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority has requested there to be a spill kit in the event of a chemical spill. We believe this property is not an adequate space for any type of industrial work as it may cause pollution to the drinking water, it may be harmful to the surrounding vegetation, livestock and individuals alike.

Furthermore, if the rezoning is approved, additional noise resulting from the heavy equipment and the trucks going to and from will be a nuisance to the street. This will also create a higher volume of traffic to a generally quiet street. The anticipated added movement will be a disturbance to the enjoyment of the surrounding properties. Reconstruction of the road may be required to accommodate the heavy truckload. Additionally, the site is too small for the type of work requested and the amount of machinery required.

I enclose a summary of our concerns,

  • air/chemical pollution
  • pollution of water/solvents
  • pollution of vegetation
  • harmful to livestock
  • harmful health risks to individuals
  • noise pollution
  • nuisance/disturbance of enjoyment of property
  • higher volume of vehicle movement

 

It is my view and the view of my family that any type of industrial work is inappropriate in a drinking water protected neighbourhood and an area that is deemed agricultural where recreational livestock are housed. If you share the same concerns, I encourage you to do the following,

  1. Write your concerns to the Town of New Tecumseth at clerk@newtecumseth.ca, before the Town Hall meeting on Wednesday, June 16, 2021. Your submissions will form part of the public record.
  2. Sign the petition found at https://www.change.org/p/town-of-new-tecumseth-stopforming-concrete-yard-on-new-tecumseth-agricultural-neighbourhood
  3. Join the Virtual Public Meeting on Wednesday, June 16, 2021 at 7:00 pm at the following YouTube link, https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRipen_OWqpMTUYl2c0KBJw. It may also be accessed through the Town’s website at https://newtecumseth.civicweb.net/portal/.
  4. If you wish to speak at the virtual public meeting register online by 12:00 pm on Wednesday, June 16, 2021 at https://forms.newtecumseth.ca/Request-to-SpeakCommittee-of-the-Whole-Planning

 

Yours truly,
ELISA MARTELLI

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