Spearheaded by passionate pleas from Kevin Small, Fleming Avenue residents told Penhold's Municipal Planning Commission (MPC) their neighbourhood is facing potential health risks, parking problems and excessive noise if the town approves Custom Bulk Services' planned expansion.
“We did a lot of research into the dangers of carcinogenic crystalline silica used in fracking sand,” said Small of his group's ongoing fight against the company's planned expansion. “I work in the oil industry and every safety officer I talk to has concerns over the potential of fracking sand blowing into a residential area. Along with our other concerns, we feel that we have grounds to reject the expansion and new development of Custom Bulk Services.”
But Myles Monea, owner of Custom Bulk Services, said he has done everything possible to ensure his company is practising good safety and environmental protection measures, and warned that a rejection of his plan will have a negative financial impact on the town.
“I have gone above and beyond on every measure I could,” said Monea, whose firm off-loads fertilizer and fracking sand to oil industry companies. “The Town of Penhold is going to lose business.”
Monea, who has operated the company since 1997 at 920 Fleming Ave., is planning a further expansion down the street at 950 Fleming Ave. The 920 Fleming Ave. location underwent expansion in 2012.
The plans for the 950 Fleming Ave. site are to add two additional storage bins, a 106-foot tower, and an adjacent dustbin. Further to the south, at 920 Fleming Ave., eight more bins will be added with a conveyor belt with the same application.
A crowd of nearly 50 people attended the May 21 hearing at the Penhold Multiplex, which included residents from both sides of Highway 2A, Monea and his lawyer, and members of Penhold town council.
Small opened up the hearing on the dangers of the carcinogenic silica sand, the traffic problems associated with heavier industrial traffic, noise issues, and decreased property values.
Other Fleming Avenue residents, like Doug McNaughton questioned the engineering and construction of the proposed 105-foot tower, while Jean Orchison was concerned over the lack of truck route signage.
“How can the drivers waiting to stage for delivery at Custom Bulk know where to go if there is no signage?” said Orchison. “The onus for the traffic problem should be on the Town of Penhold to beef up traffic control and install proper signage.”
Resident Phil Townsend said he was worried about ongoing parking safety on the avenue in front of his home, adding the issue is already dangerously problematic.
“I have seen trucks park in the middle of the street, back up down the street the wrong way, and have seen them make tight turns so that even parking in front of my home is not safe for my vehicles. Somehow, this has to be dealt with,” said Townsend, adding property values in his neighbourhood have already plummeted by at least $50,000. “Two years ago I tried to sell my home and my realtor told me I would only get $180,000 when it was valued at $230,000 before Custom Bulk was loading across the street from me.”
The series of concerns brought forward by residents, including those outside the neighbourhood, was not lost on MPC chair Mike Yargeau who conceded the traffic concerns were valid but raised in the wrong forum.
He added the development permits for both 920 and 950 Fleming Avenue were not dependent upon noise, dust and traffic concerns, but whether the applied use of the properties was in adherence with land use bylaws and the Municipal Government Act.
Monea told the hearing that he “cannot police” Fleming Avenue and that he has done everything possible to address traffic concerns.
“While we have made every effort to send maps to the dispatchers so our drivers will take the proper truck route, we cannot force them to,” said Monea. “I let the bylaw officers know when we will be busy, and if they have to, tell them to ticket the offending drivers.”
As for construction issues, Monea said geotechnical studies have been done on the land to ensure the professionally engineered buildings will be solid and secure, and built to the highest standards.
“When we had the Chinook's Edge School Division come out, I drove them around the property and took them to the school so they could have the full picture of our site,” said Monea. “They recommended we put an additional vacuum unit on one site and we will be doing so.”
Meanwhile, Penhold mayor Dennis Cooper said it was important town council listen to the concerns of citizens, particularly ones that involve health and safety. He said the town should get truck route signs up and beef up its bylaw enforcement to protect the neighbourhood.
“MPC has a tough job to do with this decision, and the final verdict must be a balance respecting our community, and business concerns,” said Cooper. “We have to respect our residents and their concerns,” he added.
MPC is expected to make a decision this month on whether to allow Custom Bulk Services' planned expansion.
