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2002-125 To adopt Official Plan Amendment No. 14 to the Township of Oro-Medonte Official Plan ,,'t .. THE CORPORATION OF THE TOWNSHIP OF ORO-MEDONTE . BY-LAW NO. 2002-125 BEING A BY-LAW TO ADOPT OFFICIAL PLAN AMENDMENT NO. 14 TO THE TOWNSillP OF ORO-MEDONTE OFFICIAL PLAN The Council of the Corporation of the Township of Oro-Medonte, in accordance with the provision of the Planning Act, hereby enacts as foHows: 1. The attached explanatory text which constitutes Amendment No. 14 to the Official Plan of the Township of Oro-Medonte, is hereby adopted. 2. The Planner is hereby authorized and directed to make application to the County of Simcoe for approval of Amendment No. 14 to the Official Plan of the Township of Oro-Medonte. 3. This By-law shaH come into force and take effect on the day of the final passing thereof with the approval of the County of Simcoe. e BY-LAW READ A FIRST AND SECOND TIME, TillS 4th DAY OF DECEMBER, 2002. BY-LAW READ A THIRD TIME AND FINALLY PASSED THIS 4th DAY OF DECEMBER, 2002. THE CORPORATION OF THE TOWNSillP OF ORO- MEDONTE j)U~ Mayor - J. Neil Craig 4~J Clerk - Marilyn Pe ycook e . . . AMENDMENT NO. 14 TO THE OFFICIAL PLAN FOR THE TOWNSHIP OF ORO-MEDONTE e e November 14, 2002 . . e 41 e AMENDMENT NO. 14 TO THE OFFICIAL PLAN FOR THE TOWNSHIP OF ORO-MEDONTE The attached explanatory text constituting Amendment No. 14 to the Official Plan for the. Township of Oro-Medonte was prepared and adopted by the Council of the Township of Oro-Medonte by By-law No. 2002-/~-S-in accordance with the provisions of Sections 17 and 21 of the Planning Act R.S.O. 1990, c.P. 13 on the day of December 2002. ~ )Ld~ '\or - J. Neil Craig ,. . AMENDMENT NO. 14 TO THE OFFICIAL PLAN OF THE TOWNSHIP OF ORO- MEDONTE e INDEX PAGE The Constitutional Statement 1 PART A - THE PREAMBLE 2 Purpose 2 Location 2 Basis 2-4 PART B - THE AMENDMENT 5 Introduction 5 Details of the Amendment 5 e PART C - APPENDICES 1. Public Meeting Minutes from February 20, 2002 2. County of Simcoe Letter dated February 20, 2002 3. County of Simcoe Letter dated May 29,2002 4. Planning Report to Planning Advisory Committee dated September 12,2002 5. Azimuth Environmental Consulting Inc. Letter dated August 19, 2002 e , .) . e e e THE CONSTITUTIONAL STATEMENT The fo]]owing Amendment to the Official Plan for the Township of Oro-Medonte consists of three parts. PART A - THE PREAMBLE- consists of the purpose, location and basis for the Amendment and does not constitute part of the actual Amendment PART B - THE AMENDMENT - which sets out the actual Amendment and consists of the text, constitutes Amendment No. 14 to the Official Plan of the Township of Oro-Medonte. PARTC THE APENDICES - consists of information pertinent to this Amendment in the form of background information. This section does not constitute part of the actual Amendment. ., ,. e e e PART A - THE PREAMBLE 1.0 Purpose The purpose of this Amendment it to change the land use designation applying to lands located in East Half of Lot 7, Concession 7 (formerly Township of Oro) from the "Rural" designation to the "Mineral Aggregate Resources" designation. 2.0 Location This Amendment affects approximately 7.6 hectares (18.7 acres) of land in the East Half of Lot 7, Concession 7 as shown on Schedule "A" attached. The property is located on Line 7 North above the Old Barrie Road. The Amendment changes the designation of the property on Schedule "AI2" of the Township of Oro-Medonte Official Plan. 3.0 Basis The subject property is a total of 40.47 hectares (100 acres) of which 32.87 hectares (81.22 acres) is currently designated Mineral Aggregate Resources in the Township Official Plan. Lands to the north, west, south, and east are aU currently designated Mineral Aggregate Resources in the Township Official Plan. Lands to the south and east are also currently the site of active licensed aggregate operations. The subject lands are located on Line 7 North, which is one of the designated haul routes in the Township. The other lands designated in the vicinity of Line 7 North were aU zoned and licensed in accordance with an Ontario Municipal Board decision in 1994. The property is located within the Oro Moraine, which is currently the subject of a Land Use Strategy review. This application was reviewed by the Environmental Consultants and Planning Consultants completing that work to ensure compliance with the intent of that strategy. Due to the existing land uses in this vicinity the proposed amendment to include the remainder of the subject lands within the Mineral Aggregate Resources designation is considered appropriate and is consistent with the Land Use Strategy being developed for the Oro Moraine. There are specific rehabilitation measures to be implemented on the License issued by the Ministry of Natural Resources in order to ensure the lands are rehabilitated to natural forestation upon completion of extraction and that the closure plan include active re-planting with native trees not passive succession in order to enhance the surrounding natural heritage system to the north-west. ..) e Two reports were completed by the applicant in support of the application including: 1. Impact Assessment of an Aggregate Application (Geological Investigations)- November 9,2001 This report confirmed that aggregate in sufficient quantities for extraction are located on the site. 2. Natural Environment Study and Impact Assessment (J. Dobell & Assoc) - August 2001 This report concludes that the proposed pit, while necessitating the removal of 7.6 hectares of woodlot, will have no negative impact in the larger significant woodlot in the northwest. These reports were reviewed by Consultants retained by the Township including Azimuth Environmental Consulting Inc. e The applicant has completed an Environmental Impact Study and has confirmed that the proposed expansion will have minimal impact on any defined feature of Provincial significance. In addition, the applicant's consultant has indicated that the amount of land to be cleared is very small compared to the size of the larger forest unit. In addition, this area does not support any watercourse or other significant natural features. On the basis of the Township's review of the various reports, the Township accepts this conclusion. The applicant has indicated that the proposed pit expansion will not impact on the groundwater recharge function of the area. In addition, extraction will not intercept the water table, as it will not occur within 1.5 metres of the water table. No on-site washing of aggregate is proposed, thereby lessening the potential impact. In order to ensure that extraction does not occur close to the water table, a number of monitoring wells will be drilled as a condition of approval. The Township agrees with these conclusions. e Given that a pit is a fairly intrusive land use, the character of the property will certainly change if the application is approved. It should be recognized however that this application is located in the vicinity of five other license aggregate operations that identify the character of this specific area. However, the applicant has indicated that a number of measures will be undertaken to further minimize the impact of the pit on the character of the area. These include: 1. Boundary adjacent to neighbouring property to north to be planted with trees, transplanted from other locations on the site, to provide an obstruction to the visibility of the operation. tit e e 2. Berms to be constructed using on-site materials and placed along Line 7 north and boundary with neighbour to north to provide mitigation to noise and visibility of the aggregate operation. It is the Township's opinion that the measures above will ensure that the impacts ofthe propose operation are mitigated as best they can be. On the basis of the review, the supporting studies and the reviews of the studies by the Township's consultant, it is Council's opinion that that proposed aggregate operation will have a minimal impact on the environment, the character of the area, and the groundwater recharge function of the Oro Moraine. On this basis, it is recommended that the County of Simcoe approve the application for Official Plan Amendment. I . PART B - THE AMENDMENT tit 1.0 Introduction All of this part of the Amendment entitled Part B - The Amendment, which consists of the following text and Schedule "A", constitutes Amendment No. 14 to the Official Plan of the Township of Oro-Medonte. 2.0 Details of the Amendment 1. The Official Plan for the Township of Oro-Medonte is hereby amended as follows: (a) Schedule A12 is hereby amended by redesignating lands described as East Half of Lot 7, Concession 7 (formerly Oro) and identified on Schedule "A" attached hereto and forming part of this Amendment, from "Rural" to "Mineral Aggregate Resources". e 41 j e PART C - APPENDICES - e t ... . e I - . I e . THE CORPORATION OF THE TOWNSHIP OF ORO-MEDONTE COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES Wednesday, February 20, 2002 TIME: 7:07 p.m. THIRTY -FIRST MEETING 2000-2003 COUNCil Present: ~ Mayor Ian Beard Deputy Mayor Neil Craig Councillor Walter Dickie Councillor Ralph Hough Councillor Paul Marshall Councillor Harry Hughes Councillor Ruth Fountain Staff Present: Jennifer Zieleniewski, CAO; Marilyn Pennycook, Clerk; Andria Leigh, Township Planner Also Present: Lloyd Squire, Bill Fitzgerald, Bill Soles, George Sutton, Fran Sutton, Susan Grant, Bob Barlow, Raymond Dumont, Peter Wig ham, Orval Hutchinson, Ernie Dryden, Walter Connell (EZ Rock), Monique Seibert, plus one illegible name on sign-in sheet 1 & 2. Mayor Ian Beard assumed the chair and called the meeting to order, followed by a moment of reflection. 3. ADOPTION OF AGENDA: Motion No. 1 Moved by Marshall, Seconded by Fountain Be it resolved that the agenda for the Council Meeting dated Wednesday, February 20, 2002 be adopted as printed and circulated with the addition of the following: 9. REPORTS OF MUNICIPAL OFFICERS: a) Report No. ADM2002-08, Jennifer Zieleniewski, CAO, re: amendment to Schedule 'A', B-Iaw 96-35, procedure - sale of surplus lands. 10. COMMUNICATIONS: c) County of Simcoe, correspondence re: 9-1-1 CERB Contract with the Ontario Provincial Police. 14. BY-LAWS: b) By-law No. 2002-021 Being a by-law to amend Schedule 'A' of By- law No. 96-35, to establish a procedure governing the sale of real property. . e 8. DEPUTATIONS: a) 7:10 p.m. Public meeting re: proposed amendment to the Official Plan and ZoJng By-law re: Concession 7, East Part of Lot 7 (formerly within the Township of Oro ). In attendance for the public meeting were: Lloyd Squire, Bill Fitzgerald and Bill Soles. Correspondence was received from the County of Simcoe with respect to this matter. Andria Leigh, Township Planner provided an overview of the proposed amendments and the applicant's representative (Bill Fitzgerald, Consultant) made a presentation. Comments were provided by Mr. Ernie Dryden and Mr. Bill Soles. There is a tape of this meeting available for review. Motion No.4 Moved by Fountain, Seconded by Marshall 41 . Be it resolved that the public meeting re: proposed Official Plan and Zoning By-law amendment, Concession 7, East Part of Lot 7 (formerly within the Township of Oro) to redesignate lands from Rural to Mineral Aggregate Resources designation, File P-121/01 (Lloyd Squire) be adjourned at 7:31 p.m. Carried. " 9. REPORTS OF MUNICIPAL OFFICERS: a) Report No. ADM2002-08, Jennifer Zieleniewski, CAO, re: amendment to Schedule 'A', B-Iaw 96-35, procedure - sale of surplus lands. Motion No.5 Moved by Fountain, Seconded by Marshall -- Be it resolved that Report No. ADM2002-08 by Jennifer Zieleniewski, CAO, re: amendment to Schedule 'A', B-Iaw 96-35, procedure - sale of surplus lands be received and adopted, and that the Clerk be authorized to bring forward a by-law to amend Schedule 'A', By-law 96-35 as presented on February 13, 2002 with the deletion of the last sentence of Clause 4.4. . Carried. 3 -------~--.."-_._-~--- , . ~;.)(A~NING/ rORtS TRY .--' .. 727 4276 02/20 '02 13:55 NO.356 .- li::)-':"~. I~ " , ,j (705) 726-9300 Fax; (705) 727-4276 02/03 . / P-I ~/IO f. , . e ,.."".. ~ ,r~ ~. ~" . "~...~ ,.~~ " TIlt: Corporatio/1 o/the County of Sin1.coe Midl.and Area.; 526-2261 Beeton Area: 729-2294' Collingwood Area: 428-3143 OrilliaArea: 326-7397 ,J PI.ANNlNG DEPARTMENT Telephone Extension 255 Fcbruery20, 2002 Administration Centre Midhurst, Ontorio LOL lXO Ms. L. Aiken, Clerk Townsbip of Oro-Medonte P.O. Box 100 Oro, Ontario LOL 2XO . r . ~\. ~ kald ~9);-iJ '1., }-' f - / d I / r;; / '-..7~:-... ' \ '" ',\""" \ '. \ '~ Dear Ms. Aiken., RE: Proposed Official P1an Amendment and Zoning By-taw Amendment Lot 7, Concession 7, Township of Oro-Medon~ (former Oro) Your File: PJ21!Ol e Thank you for cb:culating the public meeting notice to this office. TIle westerly section. of the subject lands, as shown OD. the enclosed map is IOC<ited witJJJn the Copeland Forest Unit (OM2) of the Green} ands Designation of the County Official Plan.. This unit includes adjacent upland and lowland habitat, and extensive forested areas of undulating topography. Enclosed for your infQrmation. is a brief summary of the features and functions for wbich the area has been identified. Prior. to approval, the applicant is required to demonstrate, througl1 an Environmental Impact St3:tement(EIS), that the proposed development can be accommodated and the significant char.acteristics of the area maiDtaIDed. Staff is aware that an EIS was prepared, however a copy has not been circulated tQ thjs office. C()nsid~ring this Official Plan Amendment and a Zoning By-law Amendment, without an EIS is contrary to Section 3.7.6 of the County Official Plan which stateS chat "... uses permitted conditionally within. the Greenland designation, with acceptable results from an EIS, are extractive resource developments". Thus prior to consideration of the position taken regarding establishing the principle of development within the Greenlands, an EIS is required to be reviewed to determine jf the features and functions can accommodate tl)is type of development without negative impact. e County Plaming staff request that the consideration of these applications be deferred until the EIS and other applicable studies have been received and reviewed by che County Planning Departmeo,t. , _"", ..' .;:.':';~:;.:l:....:.:...~:.:-:-:-::-:.:~._.!.,:';",'.r-;;:'.':::-:'-" ':-~,;:.'-:-.""'.-:. .~.. ..,...;.> _....~ Please call if you have questions or require addition a] information. ~..,.. ",", ,. . "'"'.. h' Yours cruJy, .~L.J4' . ... ".,~i,-, '. , . Gail White, M.C.I.P.. R.P.P. Planner II ~ r;',; ,. f :;".-:," :........ . '-.' :-0 - .. . .~_.-..__.... ..", " S~ PLANNING/FORESTRY 705 727 4276 OS/29 '02 14:25 NO.229 02/02 j e ~ ~UJ ""1~ The CrJrporation of the COUllty of 'Simcoe (705) 7215-9300 Fax: (705) 727-4276 Beeton Area: 729-2294 E-mail: planning@counfy.simcoe.on.ca Pl.ANNING DEPARTMENT Telephone Extension 255 Administration Cen1re Midhurst, Ontario LOL lXO Ma.y 29. 2002 Townsb;p of Oro-Medonte P.O. Box 100, Oro, ON LOL 2XO Attention.: Andria Leigh, Secretary-Treasurer Dear Ms, Leigh; e RE: Proposed Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendments Your File P121/01 South Part of Lot 7, Concession 7, former Township of Oro now ToW,VshiP- of Oro-Mec,l9P~ Further to our letter dated February 20, 2002 concerning the a.bove-noted applications, please be advised that County Plannjng staffhave received and review the Enviromnental Impact Statement (EIS) whjch was prepared for the subject property and have no obj~ctions. The EIS identified and reviewed the features and functions associated with the Copeland Forest (OM2) Unit as described in the County~s Natural Heritage Study. In Section 6,'Id.entified Environmental Concerns and Mitigation Techniques., County staff support the actions identified in the 'suggested mitigation technique' and recommend that tnese actions become part of the rehabilitation plan. Please contact me if you have any further questions. Yours truly, e ~~ Gait White, MCIP, RPP. ce. Bill Fitzgerald 835-5636 (fax) ~ PLANNING ADVISORY COMMITTEE e September 12, 2002 Lloyd Squire East Half of Lot 7, Concession 7 (Oro) P-121/01 Proposal The subject property is located in Concession 7, East Half of Lot 7 and is located on the east side of Lint 7 North between the Old Barrie Road and the Bass Lake Side Road. The property subject to the Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendments is a total of 100 acres in size. The applicant's have applied for an Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendment to permit the subject lands to be used for an aggregate operation; only portions of the property require re- designation and the entire parcel requires rezoning. Countv Official Plan Currently - Greenlands, Rural & Agricultural Designation with Primary and Secondary gravel identified on the Schedules to the Official Plan e Township Official Plan Currently - Mineral Aggregate Resources, Rural and Environmental Protection two Overlay (Significant Vegetation) Designation Proposed - Mineral Aggregate Resources Designation Township ZoninQ Bv-Iaw Currently - Mineral Aggregate Resources Two (MAR2) and Agricultural/Rural (AlRU) Zone Proposed - Mineral Aggregate Resources One (MAR1) Zone Department Head Comments e Roads Superintendent - No Concerns with the amendment, but would this applicant as part of the Line 7 North road agreement contribute to the haul route improvements Fire Chief - No Objections Clerk - Located on Oro Moraine, wait for strategy or already has permission? 1 " Chief Building Official - No Objection _ Engineering and Environmental Services - Holding Symbol or other means available to the Township should be use to ensure the applicant contributes their portion for the upgrades to Une 7 North Plannin~ Department Comments (September 14. 2001) The application is a proposal for a new pit operation on a property owned by Lloyd Squire. The application before the Committee is a request for an Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendment. To date, the applicant has provided an Natural Environmental Study and Impact Assessment and a complete set of Site Plan drawings. The applicant is currently completing additional studies in support of this application. In accordance with the Township, these studies will be required to be technically reviewed by the Township Consultants prior to a complete report being presented to this Committee for consideration. e The applicant will also be proceeding at a future date with the required application under the Aggregate Resources Act. Recommendation It is recommended that Development Application P-102/00 a proposed Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendment be deferred until the appropriate peer review comments are received and reviewed; and further that this be brought back to Planning Advisory Committee for future consideration. Planninq Department Comments (December 3. 2001) The applicant has now completed additional studies to support his application and these are currently being technically reviewed by Township Consultants. Section 05.3 outlines the conditions under which new mineral aggregate operations may be permitted. This section indicates that all new operations shall require an amendment to the implementing Zoning By-law and shall be subject to the requirements of Section D5.3.1.2 and D5.3.1.3. e Section D5.3.1.2 relates to the assessment of environmental impact. This section requires the applicant to complete an Environmental Impact Study that addresses, in accordance with Section G3 - Requirements for an Environmental Impact Study: 2 'j - e e e . a) the effect of the operation of the pit or quarry on: · the natural features and ecological functions of the area; · nearby communities; · agricultural resources; · the character of the area; · the groundwater table; and, · nearby wells used for drinking water purposes; b) the effect of the increased truck traffic on the environment; c) the suitability of the proposed haul routes; d) the effect of the noise, odour, dust and vibration generated by the proposed use on adjacent land uses; and, e) how the site will be progressively rehabilitated to accommodate subsequent land uses after the extraction is completed; and, f) how the impacts from the proposed pit or quarry will be mitigated in order to lessen those impacts. The EIS prepared in accordance with this Section shall demonstrate that there will be no negative impacts resulting from the development of a new mineral aggregate extraction use on the significant natural features that are identified on Schedule 'B' to this Plan or the ecological functions for which the area is identified. The Township Consultant is currently reviewing this study to ensure that the study complies with the requirements of Section 05.3.1.2 and Section G3. If additional details are required the applicant will be advised and requested to complete this work. Section D5.3.1.3 - Assessment of added impact requires that an applicant complete an assessment of the added impact of the proposed pit operation on the items listed in Section 05.3.1.2 and that also takes into account the impacts of: a) b) existing pit or quarry operations in the general area; future pit or quarry operations on lands in the general area that are designated for aggregate extraction but not yet licensed under the Aggregate Resources Act. In considering the added impact of the new pit operation to existing known impacts, Council shall ensure that mitigation measures intended to lessen the added impact are reviewed and applied as required. During the course of this review, phasing options shall be considered by the applicant as one means to 3 . . . . " " minimize the combined impacts of the proposed pit or quarry and existing pits or quarries on the general area. e The applicants have now completed an impact assessment of an aggregate operation and this is currently being reviewed. A copy of this is attached for the Committee's reference. If additional details are required the applicant will be advised and requested to complete this work. All studies required by the Official Plan have now been submitted, it is recommended that a Public Meeting now be scheduled to allow public input to the application and the related technical work prior to any amendments being made to the reports. Recommendation It is recommended to Council that Development Application P-121/01 a proposed Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendment proceed to a Public Meeting in accordance with the requirements of the Planning Act. PlanninQ Department Comments (September 12, 2002) e On February 20, 2002 a public meeting was held on both the Official Plan Amendment and Zoning By-law Amendment which would permit the subject property to be utilized for aggregate extraction. A copy of the minutes of the meeting are attached for the Committee's reference. At that meeting a letter was received from the County of Simcoe requesting that the application be deferred until their consideration of an Environmental Impact Study. A copy of this letter is attached for the Committee's review. On May 29, 2002 a revised letter was received from the County indicating that they were satisfied with the Environmental Impact Study and requested that the Identified Environmental Concerns and Mitigation Techniques noted in Section 6 become part of the rehabilitation plan to be considered by the Ministry of Natural Resources for final approval. The Township agrees that this should be incorporated into the rehabilitation plan and would require the rehabilitation plan to be amended to the satisfaction of the Township prior to consideration of the Zoning By-law Amendment. e On February 20,2002 comments regarding the Environmental Impact Study were submitted by the Township's Consultant and these are attached for the Committee. These comments were forwarded to the applicant and revisions were provided to the Township on August 15, 2002 to satisfy these items. On this basis, it is now recommended that the Official Plan Amendment to re- designate a portion of the property from Rural to Mineral Aggregate Resources be considered favorably by the Committee and that the appropriate Official Plan 4 .. .., II e 41 e . Amendment be drafted for favorable consideration of Council. The zoning by- law amendment would not be presented until such time as the Committee reviews revised plans for the operation and rehabilitation and the Official Plan Amendment has received approval from the County of Simcoe. Recommendation It is recommended that the Official Plan Amendment for Lloyd Squire, Application P-121/01 be drafted to re-designated lands in Concession 7, East Half of Lot 7 (Ora) from the Rural designation to the Mineral Aggregate Resources designation and be presented to Council for favorable consideration. 5 .. 113/02/2002 10:25 7057218926 ....~-~ .~ .....__.._....~.f'~-...---..._....._..,.- -" AZIMUTH ENVIRONMENT PAGE 132 . . . ZIMUTH ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTING, INC. Environmental Assessments & Approvals August 19, 2002 ABC 02-001 Township of Oro-Medonte Box 100 Oro-Medonte, Ontario LOL 2XO Attention: Ms Andria Leigh Township Planner Re: Proposed Squire Pit - Review Of J. Dobell & Assoc. and Geological Investigations Responses To Our Peer Review e Dear Andria: We have completed OUI review of the responses from J. Dobel1 & Assoc. and Geological Investigations and provide the following comments. J. Dobell & Assoc. (letter of March 28, 2001) Mr. pobell has confirmed that all the species present in the subject woodlot and surrounding lands are included in the appendices, and that the loss of the woodlot and associated extraction opera.tions will not adversely impact the local population of the species identified. As documented by Mr. Dobell, no provinciaUy significant species will be affected and in the long term restoration with native species will assist in restoring the lost wildlife habitat. Considering the aforementioned and existing area affected by the adjacent Lafarge extraction area, we agree with Mr. Dobell's conc)usions that the loss of the forest habitat is not significant. We have no further issues with the Natural Environmental Study and Impact Assessment. . Geological InvestigatioDs (letter of August 15t 2002) The letter from Mr. Fitgerald confif11?s that the proposed pit will be constructed in accordance with an MNR approval that will maintain at least 105m of unsaturated overburden between the pit floor and the water table. They state that the distance is 111 Saunder~ Road, Unit 2, Bame. Ontario l4M 6E? telephone: (705) 7:(1-8451; fax: (705) 721.6926 Info@8zimuthenvironmental.com --..,.-. } 10/02/2~02 10:2~ 7057218925 "" · ..!!"",._ _._. ."t__....__._. ,___.__ . .~ e e . AZIMUTH ENVIRONMENT PAGE 03 " likely to be greater than that given the .presence of finer grained sediments and therefore further delineation of the water table is not required. The majority of the comments we made previously should be addressed through the Aggregate Act approvals required from MNR. As long as the standards required by MNR are met and the pit excavates above the water table (as is the cWTent plan), it is unlikely that there would be significant impact to the ground water regime. MNR should ensure that ground water recharge is maintained across the property. The proposed pit is located in and adjacent to lands considered as a core area of the Oro Moraine. h such, the Township shou1d require that the closure plan return the lands to natural forestation, and that the closure plan include active re-planting with native trees (as opposed to passive succession). If you require any further clarification on the aforementioned issues, please call me. NMENTAL CONSULTING, INe. MGJ;