Local officials were not convinced a gravel pit concept on the southwest corner of Sundre would be well received by the community.
Local officials were not convinced a gravel pit concept on the southwest corner of Sundre would be well received by the community.
Patricia Maloney, senior planner with Dillon Consulting, outlined to Sundre's council during the June 26 meeting a proposed gravel pit design on behalf of Rolling Mix Concrete.
"We have been also working for Mountain View County and Rolling Mix on the development of what is being called the Airport Gravel Extraction Concept plan," she said.
Rolling Mix owns a quarter section of land situated solely in Sundre adjacent to county land, and roughly six months ago began a process to determine what the company could do with that space, she said.
A decision was made to present an idea to council to find out "if there's any traction whatsoever before our client spends a lot of money to pursue an area structure plan or rezoning applications," she said.
Rolling Mix purchased the land in 2008 for the sole purpose of gravel extraction, although the site was annexed into the municipality in 2010, she said.
"The subject site is currently undeveloped green filled land, it's been used for farming and grazing for decades. The land is currently used for agriculture," she said, adding there is one small residential parcel fronting onto 10th Street SW that has been subdivided out in the northwest corner of the quarter section.
"They're fully aware of the concept that is being presented."
The Town of Sundre's land use bylaw has identified the area as urban reserve, while the municipal development plan includes the property as future industrial, she said.
"What we're proposing is sort of a combination."
The concept calls for progressive reclamation, she said, adding, "we are not talking about extracting gravel from a quarter section and then letting it sit like the moon and then reclaiming it."
The county is revising its gravel extraction regulations so any active pit can be no larger than 30 acres, and that the next phase cannot be started until reclamation on the first pit has begun. Additionally, access to the development would not come down 10th Street SW but rather along Rge. Rd. 55, she said, later acknowledging trucks would still likely end up going through the town's Main Avenue corridor.
"It would not be a public road, it would be a private road so that there wouldn't be conflicting traffic or public use."
The design calls for a gravel extraction method that would start on the northern-most part of the quarter section and work its way south away from the municipality to minimize the impact over time. The concept also includes plans to progressively reclaim the land as a regional park for recreational open spaces and trails, she said.
Although Rolling Mix is well aware of people's concerns regarding the amount of gravel extraction in the region and the impact those operations have, Maloney said, "the bottom line is we do need gravel."
So the company is pitching the development of a small industrial park, to dedicate a large area for a green open space that could eventually be used, for example, to establish paths or playing fields, and to request a temporary permit to extract the gravel from the 60-acre site, she said.
"What they're proposing is a three- to five-year permit for extraction with then full reclamation immediately after the temporary permit is up, and that all of that land then be dedicated to the town or to a charitable organization."
During that temporary period, the company would have to extract the gravel and move it south into county land, and all of the crushing would be contained inside a building, "because we know that dust and noise is an issue with gravel" operations.
The closest the development would get to the Sundre Seniors Supportive Living centre would be half a mile, and it would only get further away as the extraction continues south. Following the temporary permit, the full reclamation period would be completed within the next two years.
"That's fairly short term," she said.
"This could add 120 acres on this quarter to the town's parks and open space and recreation component."
Although no official applications have been made, a biophysical impact assessment has been completed, and no significant issues such as endangered species or increased potential for flooding have been identified. Aside from generating non-residential tax revenue for the municipality, the project would in the longer term represent a huge amenity for the community, she said.
"Is there merit in this; should we pursue this?" she inquired.
"I know historically the town hasn't been particularly supportive of gravel extraction within the town boundaries. We believe that this is maybe one exception to the rule."
The company was seeking direction and the consultant expressed a willingness to work with the municipality as well as the community.
However, elected officials were not overly enthusiastic about the proposal and among other issues expressed concerns about the increased truck traffic.
"Honestly, I am right now adamantly against any gravel pits in our town limits," said Coun. Cheri Funke, who also expressed doubt the extraction would not impact the potential for flooding.
The councillor was also curious to know who would be responsible for the cost of maintaining the park space.
"I don't think that we can afford to pay for something big and beautiful."
Coun. Myron Thompson said he agreed with Funke to an extent, but added council should always consider ways to benefit the municipality. The councillor said he would like to see the province lobbied by stakeholders and the county regarding the possibility of building a secondary bridge for industrial traffic.
"If you could get certain parties interested in helping the town achieve that, I think we'd be happy to jump on board," he said.
"We need another route for our trucks."
Coun. Chris Vardas said there are pros and cons to everything, and was favourable towards offsetting the residential tax burden. But he also expressed concerns about increased truck traffic.
"Am I saying yes? No. Am I saying no? No," he said.
"We do need some kind of economic boost."
The councillor urged the consultant to engage the community on behalf of Rolling Mix to determine how residents might feel about the development.
"There would be a lot of consultation with administration, council, the public," said Funke.
"You have a tough sell, and you ain't got mine."
