Teeswater Concrete OPA 27

The applicant is proposing to establish a licensed aggregate extraction operation (gravel pit) on the subject property. The subject lands are approximately 133.3 hectares and there is an existing, licensed aggregate operation on site (17 hectares). The Watson Pit would be a new Class ‘A’ pit with a proposed annual tonnage of 750,000 tonnes. The applicant proposes to license 93.3 hectares, of which 77.4 hectares would be for extraction. Access to the Watson Pit would be from Grey Road 9. Progressive rehabilitation would occur as extraction moves across the site and the lands would be returned to an agricultural use. A license under the Aggregate Resources Act from the Ministry of Natural Resources is also required.

The proposal includes two applications under the Planning Act: an amendment to Grey County’s Official Plan and an amendment to the West Grey Zoning By-Law.

The purpose and effect of the proposed County Official Plan Amendment is to designate a portion of the subject lands (approximately 5.5 hectares) as ‘Aggregate Resource Area’ on Schedule B of the County Official Plan. The subject lands are currently designated as ‘Rural,’ ‘Space Extensive Industrial and Commercial,’ ‘Hazard Lands’ and ‘Provincially Significant Wetlands’ on Schedule A of the County Official Plan; and designated ‘Mineral Resource Extraction Area’ and ‘Aggregate Resource Area’ on Schedule B. Of the 93.3 hectares proposed to be licensed, approximately 87.8 hectares are currently shown on Schedule B as ‘Aggregate Resource Area.’ Extraction is permitted without an official plan amendment within the existing Aggregate Resource Area.

The purpose and effect of the proposed Zoning By-law Amendment is to rezone the subject lands from ‘C2-115 Highway Commercial’ to ‘M4-XX Aggregate Industrial Exception’ (approximately 93.3 hectares) with the remainder being rezoned form ‘C2-115’ to ‘A2-XX Rural Exception’. The ‘A2-XX’ zone would permit the use of an existing dwelling as an office for the aggregate operation. The ‘NE2 Natural Environment 2’ and ‘NE Natural Environment’ zones are not being changed.