C o n c e r n s r e g a r d in g Yo u n g ’ s

L a n d s c a p in g p r o p o s a l

Jenkins & HWY121, Fenelon FallsDr. Kerstin Kelly

Ta b le o f C o n t e n t sMain Topics of Concern

1. Environment2. Dust3. Noise4. Public Health & Safety5. Road Conditions6. Traffic & Safety7. Property Values8. Farming & Agriculture9. Zoning 10. Official City Plan•Nanaimo (City) v. Rascal Trucking Ltd., [2000] 1 S.C.R. 342 Judicial Ruling

1. E n v ir o n m e n tThe property is located on the ‘welcome mat’ to Fenelon Falls. Is a soil processing plant operation the impression we want to give visitors to our lovely town and the region in general? 

• It is my understanding that there was an environmental and engineering impact study done on this site. Did it address the Bobolinks, and other b ir d s n e s t in g in t h e f ie ld s , t r e e s , s t r e a m & p o n d a r e a s on the property?

I contacted P e t e r W a r in g , o f t h e C o n s e r v a t io n A u t h o r i t y , w h o a s s e s s e d t h e r is k s o n t h e p r o p e r t y in q u e s t io n , with a few questions regarding his report. These questions included:

• Do you feel that this is the best use of the lands in question and the best location for a soil processing facility which is already in operation on Industrial Park Road?

Do you feel it is in keeping with the planning and forward thinking goals of the City, especially in light of the fact that it would not be allowed in the New Official Plan for the City?

• It is located on agricultural land which has been regularly farmed for hay crops, so how will this land use change the protection of the area by the conservation authority?

• What will the removal of topsoil, the noise of the industrial equipment, the dust and the noise do to the local species of animals? 

What will the effect be in your opinion on even domestic animals such as dogs and cats, often sick, immune compromised, and already stressed with disease, which are regularly patients in the adjacent animal hospital?

Mr. Waring indicated that he was not aware of the rezoning.

I requested his comments, specifically with regard to the following:

•Carbon emissions and fugitive dust emissions from extraction, processing and transport which are known to travel up to a km from the source

•Effects of biodiversity and landscape;

•Noise from diesel equipment, dumping of soils, and loading of products, large trucks, ‘body slapping’ of trucks, reversing sirens of loaders which will be operating from 7 am-7 pm 6 days per week,

the Effects on the Fauna of the area, and the Effects on Neighboring Livestock

T h e s e a r e a l l s u b s t a n t ia l ly im p o r t a n t f a c t o r s t h a t w e m u s t c o n s id e r w it h t h is p r o p o s a l .

• What are the causes of air quality issues?

The main cause of air quality issues is dust, which is also one of the most common sources of complaints from local communities and residents. Exhaust fumes from fixed and mobile plant running on diesel, and odours from associated can cause impacts outside the site boundary.

Dust, however, can potentially be generated on a large scale throughout the life of the operation and therefore has a higher potential for traveling beyond the site boundary and affecting surrounding areas.

2 . D u s t

Once present in the open air, dust is extremely difficult to remove and the only realistic option is to allow it to settle back to the surface in its own time. The location at which settling occurs may be difficult to accurately predict and impossible to control.

A ir Q u a l i t yWhy should air quality issues important to councillors? The most common cause of air quality problems is airborne dust.

As a consequence, dust is a major source of complaints from local communities and residents suffering dust deposition on their property.

• Activities that can generate dust include soil stripping, stockpiling, disposal of wastes, processing operations, loading and unloading, haulage, and site restorations.

• Dust can be a major issue for local communities. Living with dust fallout in surrounding areas can be a source of annoyance for local people and concerns regarding the health impacts of dust may be difficult to dismiss irrespective of the likely risk. Local communities can potentially be affected by dust up to 1 km from the source.

Larger particles are associated with public nuisance, being particularly noticeable on clean surfaces such as cars, windows and window ledges, or surfaces that are usually expected to remain free of dust.

• Deposition may impact dust-sensitive locations such as schools, retirement homes, hi-tech industries and hospitals and deter the use of amenity areas by local residents.

Complaints may increase when dust has a contrasting colour that is more noticeable on deposition or when deposition of dust is frequent, heavy or occurs over a large area.