By Pepper Parr
July 22nd, 2020
BURLINGTON, ON
Now to serious part can begin.
Nelson Aggregates advised the public earlier today that their application for new licenses to expand the area they are quarrying has been deemed complete by both the city and the Region.
That means the application can now go to the JART (Joint Administrative Review Tribunal) for a hearing and be judged on its merits.
The lake that Nelson Aggregates claim will be created when the quarry has been mined out.
Nelson President Quinn Moyer said that “The best experts in their fields spent two years preparing this application and ensuring it met or exceeded all standards. “We are pleased the Region and the City have determined the 5,000-page application is comprehensive and will move to the formal review stage.”
As part of the application, 19 independent studies examining the expansion’s potential impact on all aspects of the environment, from water to noise, conclude it would meet all provincial standards and have no adverse environmental impact.
Nelson Aggregates say that “This quarry has played an important role as Burlington’s main source of local gravel for more than 50 years. Expanding the quarry will help Burlington and Halton meet their growing needs for roads, homes and schools in an environmentally sustainable manner.”
The studies concluded “the proposed Burlington Quarry Extension is located where policy anticipates extraction to occur; appropriately balances economic, environmental and social considerations; and represents good planning taking into account provincial, regional and municipal planning policies.”
The land that is the issue
“This is a legacy project,” said Moyer, “one that will help Burlington and Halton grow sustainably over the next generation, and then give future generations the environmental and health benefits of a large urban park.”
The proposed park would be 5.7 times larger than Burlington’s City View Park, and would be donated to the public in stages following approval. The size and scale of the park would allow for abundant recreational opportunities, from biking and swimming to rock climbing and soccer.
The process for quarry expansion applications is laid out in the Aggregate Resources of Ontario Act, Provincial Standards. The Provincial Standards contain a set of standard application criteria for licence and aggregate permits.
There is a community organization opposed to any further development of a quarry. CORE: Conserving our Rural Ecosystems does not want to see the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve on the Niagara Escarpment infringed upon.
Mayor Meed Ward issued a Statement as well setting out the process and adding: “On July 20, 2020, after a thorough review and consultation with the Joint Agency Review Team (JART) partners, the Region’s Chief Planning Official has deemed the application to amend the Regional Official Plan complete. City of Burlington staff have also deemed the companion Local Official Plan Amendment applications complete on July 20, 2020.
There will be a report on the September Halton Regional Council agenda that will profile key aspects of the application submission and will highlight for Council the next steps, including the work being undertaken by JART and opportunities for engagement and public input. The Region’s website will be updated to ensure the most up-to-date information is provided.
The city of Burlington has created a dedicated webpage for all materials and reports related to the Quarry Expansion application. You can find that here: https://www.burlington.ca/en/services-for-you/nelson-quarry-extension.asp.
