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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPD-96-83 f B J 4 CORPORATION OF THE TOWN OF NEWCASTLE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT T.T.EDWARDS,M.C.I.P.,Director HAMPTON,ONTARIO LOB 1J0 TEL.(416)263.2231 REPORT TO THE GENERAL PURPOSE AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE MEETING OF JUNE 20, 1983 REPORT NO. : PD-96-83 SUBJECT: RESPONSE TO DELEGATIONS AT THE MAY 30, 1983 MEETING OF THE GENERAL PURPOSE AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE - REGIONAL RECLAIMERS REZONING APPLICATION - FILE: DEV 82-36 RECOMMENDATION: It is respectfully recommended that the General Purpose and Administration Committee recommend to Council the following: 1 . That Report PD-96-83 be received for information. BACKGROUND: At the special meeting of the General Purpose and Administration Committee held on May 30, 1983, to consider the rezoning application submitted by Regional Reclaimers i Limited, a number of delegations made presentations to the Committee on the proposed landfill expansion. The Committee resolved (Resolution # GPA 480-83) that the various questions and comments brought before Committee by other than retained professionals be addressed and responded to where possible. 4 f Report No: PD-96-83 . . ./2 In this Report, staff have attempted to address as many of the comments as possible that were made by the non-professional delegations. i COMMENTS: Staff have reviewed the comments presented to Committee by the non-professional delegations. The concerns of the objectors to the proposed expansion and rezoning focused on three major areas - the agricultural quality of the subject land, the need to recycle wastes and find alternate methods of waste disposal , and the environmental and safety aspects of the proposed expansion, including the quality of life for area residents. The concerns of the supporters of the proposed expansion and rezoning focused on society's need to have government regulated waste disposal facilities, and the employment opportunities which would be provided by the expansion of the Regional Reclaimers landfill . In order to simplify the discussion of the concerns raised by the delegations, staff will address these concerns by topic, rather than respond to each delegation individually. Agricultural Land The land covered by the expansion application is prime agricultural land and it was suggested that , because almost 90% of Ontario's land base is not suitable for agricultural production, there is ample space for urban-related developments such as landfills to be directed away from agricultural land. i -�\s- -'(c Report No: PD-96-83 .. ./3 I Staff note that the various levels of government in Ontario have demonstrated their concern for the preservation of Ontario's agricultural land resource. The Provincial Government 's Foodland Guidelines, which were released in 1978 as a statement of government policy, state that high-priority agricultural land is to be protected and not given up for non-farming purposes. The Guidelines do provide for non-agricultural uses on high-capability agricultural lands; however, considerable documentation is required to justify such a use. Such documentation includes looking at land use (e.g. projected population for planning area) , land area (e.g. amount of existing vacant developable land already designated or proposed for the same purpose) , and locational (e.g. no poor agricultural land which could be used) considerations. The Ministry of Agriculture and Food has identified the subject land as Classes I through III and has indicated that the proposal requires much further documentation to justify the expansion. The Council of the Town of Newcastle endorsed the Foodland Guidelines in February 1978. As well , the Durham Regional Official Plan, through the provisions of its Permanent Agricultural Reserve and General Agricultural Area designations, discourages non-farm related uses in agricultural areas. Staff also note that the new Planning Act (Bill 159) identifies the protection of the Province's agricultural resource base as a matter of provincial interest. Staff have therefore stated that prior to Council consideration, a justification of need should be provided satisfying the Foodland Guideline considerations. Waste Recycling/Recovery A number of delegations emphasized the need to find alternate methods of waste disposal and the need to recover and recycle wastes. I i Report No: PD-96-83 .. ./4 Town staff contacted the Ministry of the Environment, Waste Management Branch, to determine if methods other than sanitary landfill are available or are being considered for the handling of non-hazardous industrial , commercial and I domestic refuse. Ministry staff indicated that in virtually all waste management systems, a landfill of some type is required as a final repository for those wastes which require disposal . Town staff also discussed waste recovery and recycling with i Ministry of the Environment staff. Ministry staff indicated that the market for recyclable materials is improving at a noticeable rate and that, as the market improves, so do the economics of recycling. The Waste Management Branch of the Ministry of the Environment administers a "Source Separation Grant Program", under which, grants are available to municipalities, companies and non-profit organizations that are considering starting waste recovery programs. The grants are available for feasibility studies, promotional activities, and start-up costs required for such programs. The purpose of the grant program is to encourage communities to consider establishing waste recovery programs. The Ontario Minister of the Environment recently released what was termed a "blueprint for waste management". According to published reports, this "blueprint" proposes to use incentives, education and enforcement to reduce the amount of garbage that is generated in Ontario and to increase the amount of garbage that is recycled. Staff therefore feel that the general climate for waste recovery is improving, and that to expect such an effort in conjunction with any waste disposal operation is not unreasonable. i i Report No: PD-96-83 .. ./5 Environmental and Safety Considerations A major concern expressed by a number of the delegations related to the possibility of Graham Creek and the ground water system becoming contaminated as a result of leachate from the landfill . Staff agree that this is a serious concern, but point out that the Ministry of the Environment has required a detailed hydro-geological analysis of the proposed expansion, and will be requiring an appropriate leachate control system. In addition, a sampling of private area well supplies adjacent to the Regional Reclaimers site conducted by Ministry of the Environment personnel in November of 1982, has demonstrated no impact on these well supplies as a result of the Regional Reclaimers landfill site. There was some concern expressed about the impact of the increased truck traffic travelling to the Regional Reclaimers site upon area residents. Staff recognize that the impact of these trucks could be considerable; however, it is important to recognize that if the proposed expansion is approved, trucks will be required to travel to the landfill site. In Staff Report PD-74-83, staff attempted to address the truck traffic issue and recommended that a truck route which, in staff's opinion, involved the least impact on area residents, be identified as the Town of Newcastle' s recommended truck route alternative. Council , at their meeting of June 13th, 1983, adopted the recommendation in Report PD-74-83, stating that this truck route was the Town 's preferred alternative and that its implementation would be a condition of any positive consideration. Need for Landfills Supporters of the proposed expansion and rezoning stated that landfill facilities are necessary in an industrial society, and that the presence of the landfill helps to attract industries to an area. It was also suggested that the Darlington Landfill , which is run by the Region of Durham, has insufficient capacity to accommodate all the waste generated in the area. j Report No: PD-96-83 .../6 Based on the information provided by the Ministry of the Environment, Waste Management Branch, Town staff agree that landfills will , at least in the foreseeable future, be required in any waste management system. Staff contacted the Region of Durham regarding waste disposal in the Region. Currently, most of the garbage produced in the Region is disposed of at the Metropolitan Toronto Landfill Site. The Region has an allotment with Metropolitan Toronto which is expected to expire in 1984. Negotiations are currently in progess to extend the Region 's tonnage limit at the site. With respect to landfill sites run by the Region of Durham, it was indicated that the Darlington Landfill is permitted to receive 72 tonnes per day and that, based on this rate, the the site is expected to remain in operation for up to ten (10) years. The Scugog Landfill in Port Perry has a very limited expansion potential . Staff note, however, that the need for a new landfill site must be thoroughly examined. Such an examination is not the responsibility of the local municipality, but rather, that of the Region and the Province. Employment Opportunities It was indicated that the expansion of the Regional Reclaimers Landfill facility would create new employment opportunities. Staff note that the Region of Durham Official Plan contains policies geared towards ensuring a favourable climate for economic development and improving employment opportunities within the Region. Staff are not in a position to evaluate the claims made in favour of the proposal , but do note that many of the comments were reflective of the relative cost of pick-up and disposal of wastes as opposed to the use of the site itself. However, it can be assumed that some co-relation will exist between the cost of disposal and the distance between a disposal site and the waste generator. i I Report No: PD-96-83 . . ./7 The foregoing information is submitted for Council 's consideration and information. Respectfu d, d mac. T. T. Edwards, M.C.I.P. Director of Planning JAS*TTE*mjc 13, 1983 i i I I C i i