The Lucknow Sentinel, 1991-12-11, Page 1••••,`-"T#7.-
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by Pat Livingston
Does Kinloss Township need another gravel pit? Pose that
question to various landowners within a.400 foot distance
'of a proposed,new pit in the township, and the answer
would be It resounding "no".
At the December 2 Meeting of township council, video
ratepayers presented their concerns over the proposed
rezoning of 15 -hectares located at lot 16, concessionS, from
Agriculture 1 to M2 Extractive Industrial, Lands to the
south and east are largely comprised of Environmental
Piatection lands, while lands to the north and west are
• mainly used for agricultural ingposes. Lands to the north
also contain a municipal landfill site. The application for
rezoning has-been made by Donegan' s Haulage, theowners
of the4operty in question. , ,z •
Attending the meeting were Raiand Ruth Buchmeier,
Greg Durward, Iked Benninger and Vern Scheeler. John
,4.
and -Karen Gross submitted their objections in writing to
council. • ,
One question posed by all parties, concerned with the
rezoning, was -‘.• does the township reallY need another
gravel pit? On checking with the township's elerk-beasurer,
the Sentinel learned there are approximately 14 pits licensed
1 1Cinloss.
UI 1.. Mr. and Mrs. Gross, of 6ambridge, purchased their 100
• acre parcel ofland, located Wesi•of the ProrAti, 4eflfZio
IWO, with plans to retire there in the future. They are •
!pl working on re -treeing their property which has a gravel pit
f • on it. Mrs. Gross told the Sentinel in a telephone interview
that the pit is licensed, but -the license not transferable, •
They would like to rehabilitate the gravel pit,but she said
• there is • no -money available to. them • through the
Rehabilitation ecurity Fund, tinder the Ministry of Natural •
• Resources. - • •
In their correspondence, .Mr t and MO. Gross. wrote,
"Should the lands presently _zoned M2 in the Township'
• Kinloss and which ate either being actively ' utilized or
which ate sitting idle or abandoned, not be considered for
mining to theirettPaeitieS before new pits are- opened? We
believe this to be' st. Mere logiCal apprOack both from ;the.
point of view ,of reiouree management and ee4mMile
prudence:if, . •
They , suggested'Major, environmental *lm
should Occur prior to,the rezoning provsL'
Oros wrOte, operitt,e a gravel muting pit of
• proposed in this miming plication, would in
•• timationi have serious rcpereu&ions on that
environmental areas ;may be the
• - system for , wastes washing out of the landfill site at
present." (rheslatglall.00.0 directly across 04rOad from
the proposed gravel -t.)1,1so allow any disritition in that
natural cleansing process,such as large scale or even c,
small scale mining -- teems to Os ,it• highly irrespentible.
course 'ofactioner . • . •.•• • • • - • • ,
•• Ray. and Pith, Bucbmeier Own 100 ametothe north side
of the rod, approximately atelarnt west Of the proposed •
gravel
They too wonder why another necessary,,
particularly in close proximity to homes. Mrs. Buchmeier
said if the rezoning.goes ahead, people in arerwill. bait
more. traffic and:'dust to contend with when tandem tricks
start running the .004. , .
•*
Other Points raised by -the,: Mr. and Buchmeier
centred around devaluation of property in the area,,,deitas
Attica' of a heavily tree- d' Property when. it isn't iecessary
and other environmental ''''concerns. They, also pointed out
that the owner of qieprolie.irtrdees not livein the township
•
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44*IstitrIttr
• and .Profits derived from the gravel pit go• out cif he
municipality. -Mrs. buchmeier said, "There_ is no direct
- benefit to lentos residents."
• The property immediately east of this 'subject land is co
owned by Fred Benninger, Greg Durward and Garry
Stevens, who -Purchased their 50 acre parcel in the summer
of19119for recreational Purposes.
In a telephone conversation with Mr, Benninger, he said
that when. and if the Tezoning application was approved, it
would make access to the back of their property easier for
trespassers.lrins in turn would contribute to a loss of their
privacy and safetti. He referred to the well-known fact that
• gravel pits make great partying places for certain segments
or Mir population. • '
thea naturalist's stand point, he expressed concern with
the negative- impact such rezoning would have on, their
ecOlogically.attractive piece of land. - • ° •
MrBenninger also pointed out when they purchased the
property, it was 'unknown to them gravel mining could be
taking place immediately . adjacent. If the rezoning is
approved, die question of value placed on the Land must be
looked ,• • •
Vern Scheerer will perhaps be the most seriously affected
if this rezoning application is approved. Es 26.4 et= of
puichased in'1987, as a retirement residence; is in a
reversed "L" shape. The property for which the rezoning is
sought butts up to his -on four perimeters.
Mr. Scheerer vehemently said, "The township doesn't
need it (grool pit). It seems anyone who wants a gravel pit
gets a license." •
•He voiced ashcans with the noise factor - tandem trucks
using an entrance approximately 100 feet from his property
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line and everyday operations in a pit with heavy machinery
being used. :What he believes will be the ravaging of a
beautiful piece of well -treed property will leave a much less
aesthetically pleasing view from his home.
Mr. Scheeler said, "I have no objection to extracting
gravel if it is_ needed, but there' are plenty of others open
that are not mined •
Having put his life -savings info purchasing his property,
Mr Scheerer now fears severe devaluation of it, lie
corroltly, hat it listed for sale, and said, "Who wants to buy,
propaty titan is three-quarters encompassed, by a gravel
pit?'
When asked ifhe had no qualms about the waste disposal
Sit e being aeons the roan When he purchased, Mr Scharer
said. 'Not I looked it over well and it .wasn't in my view.
turn savage-%
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