The following is a press release from the Town of Greater Napanee:
After the completion of a virtual public meeting held under the Planning Act on February 24, 2022, the Town of Greater Napanee hosted an additional in-person special meeting on March 9, 2022. Both meetings will form part of the public record for the application and all comments are considered official comments to Council associated with the application. Residents are asked to be advised of the following information:
Municipal Responsibilities Surrounding Zoning By-laws:
Municipalities are required to accept applications to amend their Zoning By-laws and have a duty to accommodate applicants by accepting and processing such applications under the Planning Act.
A municipality cannot immediately refuse to accept an application for an amendment to their Zoning By-law. Applications are reviewed for conformity with the Provincial Policy Statement, Upper Tier Official Plans, and the municipality’s own Official Plan.
Municipalities are required to decide on an application for an amendment to their Zoning By-law within 90 days from application submission, otherwise the applicant has the right to appeal a non-decision to the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT).
Under legislation, Council cannot put the question of whether to approve this application on the ballot.
Town of Greater Napanee Staff and Council Have Heard the Concerns of Residents:
Over the period of 11 months, staff have received a substantial quantity of public comments from concerned residents regarding the proposed Tomlinson Asphalt Plant. To-date, correspondence from the community includes:
- 12 phone calls;
- 100 emails;
- 33 verbal comments from residents who attended one, or both, public meetings held in February and March 2022; and
- 43 public comments expressing concerns from residents via Let’s Talk Greater Napanee.
Staff and Council acknowledge the conversations that exist on social media among the community and have received a signed petition from community members who are against authorizing the proposed Zoning By-law Amendment application.
What Residents Have Said:
The following points are the reoccurring concerns communicated by residents to staff regarding the proposed Zoning By-law Amendment application:
- Increased noise because of intensified operations at the quarry and operation of the asphalt plant;
- Short and long-term health implications;
- Air quality impacts, including odour emitted from the plant operations;
- Increased traffic to and from the site;
- Groundwater impacts and impacts from the management of stormwater runoff;
- Natural environment impacts;
- Potential property devaluation and impacts to the tax base;
- Elevated quarry operations including blasting and crushing resulting in increased noise, vibration and traffic;
- Hours of operation and intensity of such operation;
- Overall quality of life impacts;
- Reputation of the Town and potential for future development in the vicinity.
The Town of Greater Napanee will continue to inform resident of the process of this proposed Zoning By-law Amendment application. Residents are strongly encouraged to visit Let’s Talk Greater Napanee, www.letstalkgreaternapanee.ca for the most accurate and up-to-date information on this project and are welcome to continue submitting comments and/or concerns via this online platform.
Next Steps:
Staff will ensure that all comments have been consolidated (from all meetings, emails and submissions), and a final report to Council will be presented for their consideration, at a regularly scheduled meeting of Council on April 5, 2022.
