Bruce County council approved an Official Plan amendment that would allow a concrete batching plant in Saugeen Shores, despite public opposition.
At a planning meeting Thursday morning, council heard from a handful of speakers and received dozens of written comments opposing the proposed expansion by Carson’s Supply to agricultural lands along Bruce Road 3 and Hwy 21.
Carson's, a business that has been in Port Elgin for 40 years, is looking to expand and create a concrete manufacturing and pre-cast concrete facility and a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) injection and extrusion manufacturing facility, with outdoor storage, parking, and a stormwater management pond.
In its submission, the company argued that available sites in Saugeen Shores that were zoned for a facility like this were too small or located in proximity to a large number of residential dwellings. Meanwhile, locations like Kincardine or Brockton were "at least 25 km away and would result in increased transportation costs and time delays."
Steven O Melia, a solicitor for neighbours of the property, told council that there are lands already zoned for this and the fact they're the more expensive to acquire is not a valid reason for approval.
"Planning is supposed to be forward-looking and so the County has certainly over many years, identified areas that would be suitable for this type of heavy industrial use and they've designated those lands," he told council. "I think it's important for that reason that County council remember that you're wearing your planning hat today and you have to figure out why does it make sense for this particular property, other than the fact that it's been purchased by the applicant. I'm submitting to you that it simply doesn't."
O'Melia also urged council to refuse the proposal on the grounds that under changes to the Planning Act, third-party appeals are no longer allowed to the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT).
"My clients and their neighbours would not have a right of appeal to the OLT, which seems kind of unfair... the matter would effectively be over," said O'Melia. "Conversely, if council does refuse the application, the applicant certainly has a right of appeal, and it can bring its consultant reports and have them tested by the Land Tribunal, not at a one hour council meeting but at a two or three day hearing or whatever it takes to give them full and proper consideration."
Other nearby residents pointed to potential health risks that PVC manufacturing might pose to the community.
Kincardine Mayor Ken Craig said despite the concerns, approving the application was the best workable solution at this point.
"I hate being a planner, that's why I have to listen to our professional staff, the concerns of the neighbours, and I have to weigh what I hear, what I know, what I experience and the experiences of my colleagues to make a decision," he said. "I'm listening to the mitigation efforts the proposal has set forward by the engineer, balancing that against the concerns of the local residents, and I can't help but support this application as presented."
Council directed the Clerk to bring forward a by-law to adopt the Official Plan Amendment at a future meeting.