12TH DAY (Wed.) OF HUNDER PIT OMB HEARINGS

Dan Kennally for the township of Woolwich was back on the stand. He disagreed with Mr. Cisco's position (on behalf of the proponent) that the pit application was driven by market forces. Dan understands gravel pits to be interim land uses only and hence not subject to market forces. This interim use is also why the township believe that a time limit on the life of the pit is appropriate.

Dan described the Provincial Policy Statement (PPS) as the provincial minimum guidelines . Municipal planners through their Township Official Plans can go further than the PPS although they must not conflict with or contravene it. Also municipal zoning by-laws work both ways in protecting future aggregate areas from development as well as protecting existing residential areas from new aggregate applications. Dan states that the Woolwich Official Plan also protects agricultural lands along with protecting communities.

Mr. Kennally believes that the Woolwich Official Plan is in conformity with the Regional Official Policys Plan while acknowledging that the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) and the Aggregate Resources Act are paramount. Dan bluntly quoted a document stating that the MNR are severely lacking in appropriate resources and indeed an inspector is likely to visit/inspect a gravel pit about once every five years. The "no unacceptable impacts" predicted by Mr. Cisco (for the proponent) is predicated on strict compliance with site rules, regulations etc. which is less likely with minimal supervision/inspections. Further Mr. Kennally indicated that the Township are very small and cannot monitor and enforce gravel pits on their own.

Dan Kennally summarized by saying that the Crowsfoot Corner is already unacceptable (Level F) and the pit trucks will make it worse. Therefore there will be unacceptable impacts. Similarily there will be unacceptable impacts from noise, visual degradation and finally to the condition of agricultural lands. It is Mr. Kennally's professional planners opinion that the pit should not proceed due to all these unacceptable impacts.