With Rocky View County (RVC) in the process of developing an Aggregate Resource Plan, some residents are raising concerns with the way the County is moving forward.
The plan will address the volume of proposals coming in from companies looking to extract gravel within the area by providing policy and direction for applicants. However, according to Bearspaw resident Mike Edwards, the County is working too closely with industry stakeholders to develop this policy.
“The County has chosen Golder Associates to work as the consultant on this plan. Basically, we’ve hired the gravel industry to write the plan for us,” Edwards said. “This company is a very good company, but they are a member of a lobby group for the gravel industry. These operations are noisy, dirty and a health risk for residents who live nearby, and we need to do something about it.”
According to RVC Planner Dominic Kazmierczak, a request for proposals was initially issued in September 2015, and Golder was selected because it best fit RVC’s criteria – mainly, he said, budget and expertise.
“There is a very set process that we need to follow when selecting a consultant, but RVC will always make the final decisions on any policy going into the final plan, and then council decides if that policy will be adopted,” he said. “The consultant will provide technical advice and guidance. It’s not like they are writing the policy and we are assessing it. The plan’s direction is still led by County staff.”
Edwards also raised concerns around engagement opportunities. While he said there have been a number of chances for residents to speak to the plan at public sessions, he was unhappy with the County’s decision to host a private consultation with industry representatives July 22. Kazmierczak said the session was mainly to debate confidential information industry members aren’t comfortable sharing with the public.
“We’ve heard concerns through the engagement process that dialogue from industry members may not be as open as it could be with members of the public there. Obviously, some of those people have some concerns,” Kazmierczak said. “We’ve asked industry how they can respond to some of the public feedback we’ve already received, seeing how they can work to meet those requests. That’s why the public wasn’t invited. It was a separate process.”
Another round of engagement will be coming up this fall, possibly in October or November, according to Kazmierczak. He said there is also a questionnaire the County’s website to collect feedback on the information available related to the plan.
“In my opinion, we’ve accurately portrayed the public’s concerns – noise, dust control, residential impacts and those sorts of things. We are trying to undertake a balanced and transparent process,” Kazmierczak said. “The aim of this plan is to balance the needs of our residents, industry members and other concerns like the environment.”
Edwards, however, said he is not confident in the County’s process, and is concerned the policy being drafted by RVC is “missing parts.”
“We’ve haven’t seen the plan yet, but we’re not believing the mumbo-jumbo that industry keeps expounding,” Edwards said. “I’d like to see the County put in some real policy and look at other options so they’re not putting this stuff right where people live. All the crushing, shaking, sorting – there’s lots of other land, why can’t they consider that?”
For more information on the Aggregate Resource Plan, visit rockyview.ca and look for the plan under the “Plans Under Review” section of the Building and Planning tab. The minutes from the industry session on July 22 are available, as well as the feedback form to provide any comments. Kazmierczak said he anticipates bringing the plan to council in spring 2017.
