Concrete_Arden

Jeff Green | Jul 12, 2007

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Concrete plans for former Arden Station property.

byJeff Green

It’s been two years since the Arden Station restaurant and gas bar burnt down, leaving burnt out shells where the buildings had been.

In the past couple of months, the site has mercifully been cleaned up, eliminating a blot on the landscape along Highway 7. The source of that cleanup surfaced at a Central Frontenac Council meeting this week, at a public meeting concerning a proposal to change the zoning at the site to allow a dry mix concrete operation to be established.

1000 Islands Concrete from Brockville proposes to set up a satellite operation to serve the Land o’ Lakes region.

The proposed zoning amendment would limit the industrial use of the site to the 1000 Islands Concrete operation, and was recommended by township planning consultant Glenn Tunnock, subject to specific restrictions that are to be contained in a site plan control document, which will be completed in the near future.

1000 Islands Concrete does not propose to mix concrete on the site. They plan to load aggregate in one side of their trucks, concrete on the other, and water in a third container. The concrete is mixed at the location where it is to be poured.

Representatives from the Kennebec Lake Association made presentations to the public meeting on the proposed zoning amendment.

“At its nearest point, Kennebec Lake is 200 metres from the site, and there are two creeks to the east and west of the property that drain directly into Kennebec Lake,” said Gray Merriam. He expressed several concerns, including one about storm water run off from the aggregate that will be stored on the site leaching harmful minerals into the creeks and into Kennebec Lake.

The owners of 1000 Island Concrete, a father and son, were present. They said that to make concrete only clean stone can be used, and it must be larger than other aggregate, such as the material used at the side of Highway 7 or on gravel roads. They suggested Hwy. 7 has more impact on the lake than anything their operation ever will.

David Daski, who owns property on the north side of Hwy. 7, near the proposed development, said the proposal runs contrary to the tourism-related country inn he is developing on his property. He is particularly concerned about dust and noise that would emanate from the operation.

“If this is permitted the township would be taking a step backwards away from promoting the tourism potential of the Land o’ Lakes region,” he said.

Glenn Tunncok said that the site plan control can stipulate a screening of the site to mitigate noise and dust, and the proponents said they plan to use brand new dust socks to trap the bulk of the dust when their trucks are being loaded.

None of the councillors indicated they intend to oppose the project, and later in the meeting a bylaw was passed which will enable the proposal to move forward if an environmental assessment is obtained and a site plan can be developed.

“There will have to be a certificate of approval obtained from the Ministry of the Environment before the business can be opened,” Tunnock said.

This did not sit well with Bill Castle, the owner of 100 Islands Concrete. “A certificate of Approval will take six months to a year to obtain. I’d like to get started before freeze up this year,” he said.

An opinion will be sought from the Ministry of the Environment as to whether the business can open with a certificate of approval pending. (see letter “Arden Cement”)