By Staff
May 25th, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
In an announcement from City Hall notice is given that Nelson Aggregate has filed an application to expand the quarry they operate in north Burlington.
The application was delivered to the city, the Region, the Niagara Escarpment Commission and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry as well as the members of the Joint Agency Review Team (JART)
“The proposed expansion to the Burlington Quarry will require approvals under the Aggregate Resources Act, the Niagara Escarpment Planning and Development Act, and the Planning Act. A Regional Official Plan Amendment and a City of Burlington Official Plan Amendment are required to permit the quarry expansion. The objective of the JART is to conduct a coordinated review of all materials in support of these amendments simultaneously.
“At this time, the Nelson Aggregate Co. application for their proposed expansion has not yet been deemed complete. An internal technical meeting has been scheduled for later this month to begin the review process. JART members will review the application for completeness and determine if it can be accepted for processing.”
Is the city suggesting that the document might not be accepted? That is a stretch.
“The City will create a project page for this application under Ward 3 Current Development Projects. Here residents will be able to find all relevant information related to this project as it moves through the planning process, including:
the complete application submission (once received)
relevant studies as those are received
contact information for the applicant and the city planner on the file
public meeting announcements
relevant staff reports
“Last year, the Nelson Quarry in Burlington announced proposed plans to expand its operations to its property to the west and south of its current operations. On its project website, Nelson briefly outlines its proposal and focuses on plans to turn the quarry over to the public once operations are finished in 30 years.
“On Jan. 15, 2020, Halton Regional Council received a public report updating council members on the proposed expansion to the Burlington Quarry (Nelson), pre-consultation meeting.
“The recommendation to Regional Council was to receive and file the report for information and forward a copy to the City of Burlington and Towns of Oakville, Milton and Halton Hills, the Niagara Escarpment Commission (NEC) and Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF).
“City staff are working on an updated report that will go to council this summer responding to the Staff direction from Councillor Nisan and the Council Meeting Motion.
Mayors Meed Ward said: “Councillors Nisan and Bentivegna, who represent our rural constituents, and I are deeply involved in this matter. We understand the concerns of our residents about the potential impact of a quarry expansion in a World Biosphere Reserve. Council has been fully briefed on the history of this site, including the previous application for expansion that was refused by the JART due to impacts on the habitat of the Jefferson Salamander.
“We do not take a position on applications until they have gone through a full review with analysis by our City staff, appropriate agencies and the public. We encourage residents to stay involved throughout this process and continue to provide your feedback to all of Council.
Nelson Aggregates applied for an expansion in 2012 – a Joint Tribunal denied the application citing the damage that would be done to a traditional home of the Jefferson Salamander.
Details on the actual application