Greenwood Aggregates Proposed Violet Hill Gravel Pit

Letter to the Minister of Transportation

Subject: Re: Greenwood Aggregates Application — Site Access and Traffic Review Part Lots: 30-32 Concession 4 EHS Dufferin County, Town of Mono, Highway 89

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OLT (Previously LPAT) Decision Regarding the Greenwood Aggregates Application

OLT (Previously LPAT) has made a decision regarding the Greenwood Aggregates application to carry out an aggregate extration operation on the south side of HIghway 8 in the Town of Mono.

Revised Site Plans, dated August 18, 2020

LPAT Tribunal Order: Six-Week Hearing Commencing on August 24 to October 2, 2020

LPAT has issued an Order concerning the six-week hearing proceeding schedule and considerations for COVID-19 safety protocols. The hearing will be from August 24 and October 2, 2020. Public attendance will be primarily accommodate through YouTube screening.

Submission from Applicant, June 14, 2020

Documents submitted by the applicant on June 14, 2020 with information relating mainly to planning, noise, and air quality.

Draft Official Plan Amendment & Draft Zoning Bylaw Amendment

Drafts of the Official Plan Amendment and Zoning Bylaw Amendment have been prepared:

Changes to Site Plans

Revised site plans, dated June 6 & 8, 2020, have been submitted. Changes include adjustments in the elevation of the pit floor.

Local Planning Appeal Tribunal Revised Order

On May 22, 2020, the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal issued a revised order (Attachment "A" in the document in this section). The Order shall be in full force and effect for the purposes of governing the required procedure leading up to and including the hearing scheduled to commence on August 24, 2020 at 10:30 am. The hearing will take place at the Town Hall Council Chambers, 347209 Mono Centre Road.

Local Planning Appeal Tribunal Decision Issued

The Local Planning Appeal Tribunal (LPAT) has issued a Procedural Order for the Greenwood hearing. The next Prehearing Conference will be held at 10:30am on Monday, June 29, 2020. The Hearing will be held for six weeks commencing at 10:30 am on Monday, August 24, 2020.

Final Comments from NVCA

Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority (NVCA) has provided a review of the informaiton in Tatham Engineering's comments and drawings dated September 6, 2019.

Greenwood Response to September 27 Letter from NVCA

Greenwood has responded to the letter from the Nottawasaga Valley Conversation Authority, dated September 27, 2018.

Local Planning Appeal Tribunal Prehearing Conference

Below is the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal issue of the next prehearing conference, which will be held on Thursday, May 16, 2019 at 10:30am. The conference will be held at the Town of Mono Municipal Office Council Chambers (347209 Mono Centre Road).

MHBC Draft Response to Peer Review Comments

Below is a draft response response that has been jointly prepared by Rollings Hyland Consulting and MHBC Planning.

NVCA Additional Comments

The NVCA has reviewed various documents dated from January 2018 to April 2018 and has prepared the following additional comments.

Greenwood Response to Town from Peer Review Reports

Below are comments received from Greenwood with regard to Peer Review Reports:

Reports from NEC

Below are reports from the NEC as part of their review for any NEC development for Greenwood's Violet Hill aggregate pit proposal.

Greenwood Files Appeal to OMB

Greenwood Aggregates appealed the Town's decision to deny their applications for Official Plan and Zoning Bylaw Amendments to the Ontario Municipal Board.

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Notices of Refusal

Notices of refusal: Official Plan Amendment and Zoning Bylaw Amendment File ZBA 2016-02

Council Denies Greenwood Applications

In a unanimous vote, Mono Council turned down the Applications for Official Plan and Zoning Bylaw Amendments made by Greenwood Aggregates. Council members provided many reasons for their rejection of the proposal, including, but not limited to, lack of information for Third Line road re-construction, lack of a development permit from the Niagara Escarpment Commission, deficiencies in the technical reports provided, and that an aggregate operation would not be compatible with the surrounding community and natural heritage features.

Greenwood Updated Site Plan

As a result of public consultation, agency comment and peer review through the planning application process, Greenwood Aggregates submitted revised site plans.

Greenwood Files ARA Notice of Objector Response

Greenwood Aggregates submitted a response to the Town's original objection to their Aggregate Resource Act Application.

Municipal Peer Review Update

The Town's Municipal Peer Review Team provided responses to Greenwood Aggregate's submissions of January 23, 2018. The documents are listed below:

Greenwood Responds to Public Meeting

Greenwood Aggregates provided responses to several of the concerns raised during the Statutory Public Meeting held at the Municipal Office on January 24, 2018. The documents submitted by Greenwood are listed below:

Council Defers on Greenwood Application

Mono held a Statutory Public Meeting last night at the municipal office to discuss Greenwood Aggregate's proposed Violet Hill Gravel Pit. Presentations were made by various consultants followed by residents expressing their views on the proposal. In the days leading up to last night's meeting Council received a significant re-submission of reports from the applicant and many letters of objection to the proposal.

Council elected to defer a final decision on the application in order to review the newly submitted information and to allow people who were unable to attend to submit written comments; and to give time for the Town to review Greenwood's responses to concern's raised during the Peer Review. Council passed the following motion:

THAT Council deems both Applications, Zoning Bylaw Amendment (ZBA 2016-02) and Official Plan Amendment (OPA 2016-01), by S Greenwood Holdings Limited and 1682843 Ontario Limited in relation to Part of Lots 30, 31, and 32, Concession 4 EHS, to be premature, given the outstanding issues and concerns identified by the Town’s peer review team and the receipt of responding materials from the applicant and numerous public submissions including the submissions received at the public meeting held January 24, 2018 and any further submissions to be received.

Council will deliberate on the application at its February 13th meeting which will be held in council chambers at 7 p.m.

Below are links to two of the presentations made by Greenwood Aggregates.

Greenwood Requests Meeting with Town to Discuss Development Agreement

Greenwood Aggregates submitted a request to convene a meeting with Town of Mono Staff to discuss the terms of a Development Agreement. In his letter Greenwood states that, as he has responded to the Peer Review's, he would like the Town to convene this meeting within the next 2 weeks.

Greenwood Responds to Peer Review

Greenwood Aggregates submitted a number of documents responding to the Town of Mono Peer Review. The documents submitted by Greenwood are listed below:

PEAC Recommends that Council Deny OP & Zoning Bylaw Amendments

At their 01-2018 Session held January 16th 2018, PEAC discussed the Greenwood Applications submitted under the Planning Act (OPA 2016-01) + (ZBA 2016-02) and deliberated the findings based on the public input received at their December 5 meeting and identified in the Peer Review Team Reports prepared on behalf of the Town. The Committee passed Resolution 04 PEAC 01-2018 as follows:

THAT Planning & Environmental Advisory Committee recommend that Council deny Application for Zoning Bylaw Amendment ZBA 2016-02 and Official Plan Amendment OPA 20-16-01 by S. Greenwood Holdings Limited and 1682843 Ontario Limited in relation to part of Lots 30, 31 and 32, Concession 4 EHS, due to the concerns which have been put forward by the Town’s Peer Review Team and the general public and PEAC concerns.

PEAC Holds Meeting Open to the Public

The Town's Planning and Environmental Advisory Committee held a meeting open to the public on December 5th, 2017. Submissions were received from the applicant, Protect Mono, and several residents regarding the proposal. PEAC will continue deliberations on January 2nd, 2018.

Town deems Greenwood application complete

The Town of Mono deemed Greenwood Aggregate's Offical Plan Amendment and Zoning Bylaw Amendment applications as "complete".

The Town had previously refused to deem the applications as complete, in part, until Greenwood provided a single proposed route for trucks accessing the pit, which they have now done.

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Greenwood Submits Revised Technical Documents

Greenwood Aggregates submitted various technical studies to support their revised haul route via 30 Sideroad and 3rd Line EHS.

Outcome of the Greenwood Aggregates OMB Hearing

The OMB made its determination on the hearing into the Violet Hill Gravel Pit. Greenwood Aggregates requested the hearing to challenge the Town's position that the application for Official Plan and Zoning Bylaw Amendments was incomplete. In part, the hearing determined the following:

• Greenwood has agreed to cover all unpaid invoices, and to keep the account in good standing going forward;
• Until all of the supporting studies have been submitted, the Town is not able to provide a position, either for, against, or "no opposition" on the 4th line option;
• lf Greenwood determines that some sort of 4th line option is feasible, it will prepare a Traffic Impact Study for that option;
• Once it is satisfied that all necessary reports have been provided in support of the preferred option, the Town will declare the applications complete.

Greenwood Aggregates submit new route to Access Gravel Pit

Greenwood Aggregates submitted a revised haul route for their proposed Violet Hill Gravel Pit. The proposed new route would see vehicles accessing the pit from the 30th Sideroad, heading west to 3rd Line EHS and then north to Hwy 89.

MTO's Response to Greenwood's proposals re: Access to Hwy 89

The MTO submitted their response to Greenwood Aggregates letter dated December 22, 2016 where Greenwood suggested several options to address concerns regarding access to Hwy 89.

Greenwood Aggregates' Response to MNR's Letter of Objection

Greenwood Aggregates submitted their response to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (Regional Operations Division - Midhurst)'s letter of objection dated November 10, 2106.

Proposals by Greenwood Aggregates to address MTO's Concerns re: Access to Hwy 89

C.C. Tatham & Associates Ltd., on behalf of Greenwood Aggregates, submitted to the MTO four options to address MTO's concerns regarding access to Hwy 89 for the proposed gravel pit.

Responses submitted under Aggregate Resource Act Licence Application

Individuals and agencies had until November 14, 2016 to file a response to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNR) to Greenwood's application under the Aggregate Resource Act. The Town of Mono, NEC, NVCA, MTO & the Southern Region, Regional Operations Division of the MNR all submitted letters. The MNR also received approximately 380 letters from individuals.

Greenwood holds Public Information Session at Mono Community Centre

Greenwood Aggregates held a public information session at Mono Community Centre on October 26th from 2 p.m. until 6 p.m. The Aggregate Resource Act requires that applicants, in this case Greenwood Aggregates, hold such meetings as part of the application process. The meeting gave Greenwood an opportunity to respond to public concerns and answer any questions raised during the session.

Greenwood to hold Public Information Session for Application for Licence under Aggregate Resource Act

Greenwood Aggregates have applied to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry for a Class A licence to permit extraction of up to one million tonnes per year from their properties.

Greenwood announced that they would be hosting a Public Information Session on Wednesday October 26th, 2016 from 2 p.m. until 6 p.m. at Mono Community Centre. This Public Information Session is being held by Greenwood in accordance with the Aggregate Resource Act which is a separate process from the municipal Official Plan and Zoning Bylaw Amendment process. The Town determined on August 5th, 2016 that Greenwood's application for an Official Plan and Zoning Bylaw Amendment to be incomplete as previously noted.

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Greenwood to Appeal Town's decision to OMB

Greenwood Aggregates informed the Town of their intention to appeal to the Ontario Municipal Board the Town's determination that Greenwood's application was incomplete.

Town determines application incomplete

The application submitted by Greenwood was premised on direct access to Highway 89, which is a Controlled Access Highway and therefore subject to approval by the Ministry of Transportation (MTO). MTO issued correspondence confirming that direct access is not available. As such, the Town considers the application incomplete until the Ministry confirms direct access is available to Highway 89 or Greenwood develops revised plans with a revised Traffic Report detailing alternative routes via Town and/or Dufferin County roads.

The Planning Department also identified the need for a Cultural Heritage/Visual Assessment Study and Lighting Plan as two additional matters that were not submitted as part of the original submission; both required by the Town and County Official Plans.

Application for gravel pit submitted to Town

Greenwood Aggregates Limited submitted an application for Official Plan and Zoning Bylaw Amendments to allow a gravel pit on their property on the 30th Sideroad between the 3rd & 4th Lines EHS.

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