Caledon council objects to pit licence application
By ALAN LICZYK
A letter has been sent to the Ministry of Natural Resources by the Town of Caledon objecting to the issuance of an Aggregate Resources Act licence to Lafarge Canada Inc. because it's premature at this time.

Caledon council endorsed staff's letter at last Tuesday's meeting.

In addition to the licence application, Lafarge has also applied for an official plan amendment and rezoning to the Town of Caledon under the Planning Act. The company is proposing the development of a sand and gravel pit above the water table west of Willoughby Road and north of Charleston Sideroad.

Dan Kennaley, Caledon's manager of policy, told council there are two approval processes and the licence application to MNR has preceded the applications to the Town. Staff would like to reach a conclusion to the merits of the OPA and rezoning before a licence is issued to Lafarge by the ministry.

The property is located within the province's Greenbelt Plan Area. Most of the proposed licenced area is designated "protected countryside" and some portions along the western boundary are located within the natural heritage system.

Councillor Doug Beffort asked what impact has the Greenbelt Plan had. Kennaley replied it's heightened awareness of the environment.

Kennaley told Councillor Allan Thompson the property is also part of the Caledon High Potential Mineral Aggregate Resources Area - Sand and Gravel and as aggregate resource lands. The Town provides more encouragement for aggregate applications within aggregate resource lands instead of aggregate reserve lands where there are additional broader and more fundamental tests and report requirements that must be met by aggregate applications.

Kennaley also noted the requirements for the applications under the Planning Act were only recently completed for circulation to the Town and the various agencies involved in the processing of the proposed OPA and rezoning. He added the Town has to wait for the peer reviews of the applicant's reports.