Ottawa Council rejects Cavanagh Construction quarry expansion plan
Ottawa City Council has voted to reject a plan to expand a quarry in the city’s rural west end.
The 4200 March Rd. site between Upper Dwyer Hill Road and Burnt Lands Road, is approximately six kilometres east of the town of Mississippi Mills and was slated for expansion by Thomas Cavanagh Construction.
The 18-hectare site, currently designated as a green space and natural environment area, is west and north of the existing West Carleton Quarry. City staff had recommended rezoning the area for mineral extraction, a move that sparked opposition from residents and the local councillor, West Carleton-March Coun. Clarke Kelly.
Kelly’s motion to reject the quarry expansion passed by a vote of 13 yeas to 11 nays at City Council’s April 16 meeting.
Staff explained that council must provide a reason for refusing the proposal, and the applicant would then have 15 days to appeal the refusal. The city would be expected to retain a land-use planner and an environmental planner to make its case, which staff estimated would cost $45,000 to $50,000, CTV News reported.
Kelly argued that the expansion would negatively impact the community, citing concerns about noise, dust, heavy traffic and pollution. He also highlighted the abundance of existing quarries and pits in Ottawa, and insisted that the land holds natural and scientific interest, meriting protection.
Despite provincial policy dictating that the city must allow resource extraction, Kelly urged council to refuse the application, emphasizing the need to uphold the city’s Official Plan. His motion to reject the zoning amendment, outlining the aforementioned concerns, was ultimately passed with a vote of 13 yeas to 11 nays.
Voting in favour of Kelly’s motion were councillors Theresa Kavanagh, Clarke Kelly, Riley Brockington, Jeff Leiper, Cathy Curry, Sean Devine, Laine Johnson, Jessica Bradley, Stéphanie Plante, Rawlson King, Marty Carr, Shawn Menard, and Ariel Troster.
Voting against were Mayor Mark Sutcliffe and councillors Wilson Lo, Glen Gower, Catherine Kitts, Laura Dudas, Steve Descroches, Allan Hubley, Matt Luloff, Tim Tierney, David Brown, and David Hill.
