CENTRE WELLINGTON ‒ Some councillors are concerned future homeowners of a proposed subdivision in Inverhaugh may get an unwelcome surprise if not properly warned about the neighbouring aggregate extraction operations.
While the 40-unit subdivision, called Pasture Edge and proposed by Elora Ridge Developments Inc. was approved for the tiny Hamlet west of Elora during a council meeting Monday evening, Coun. Lisa MacDonald requested more public education to warn future residents of the active aggregate extraction operations neighbouring the proposed location near the corner of Sideroad 4 and Fourth Line E.
"I go down Wellington Rd 21 all the time and that pit has grown rather large rather quickly," said MacDonald, during the meeting. "I just want to make sure that the people who are going to buy these lots really understand that we're drilling wells and that will impact (the proposed units)."
According to Brett Salmon, managing director of planning and development, there is a provision for warning clauses to be put on the property titles warning of the adjacent uses.
But MacDonald was doubtful that would be enough, citing an increase in people buying homes without viewing them first.
"I just don't want to have feedback after this is all done with residents saying they had no idea that was such a large pit," said MacDonald. "I just want to make sure that the people who buy these lots really, really understand what they're getting into because I've seen that happen in the past."
However, Salmon said that the gravel pit is "pretty hard to miss."
"The (gravel pit) that includes part of this property will hopefully be rehabbed soon and it won't look like it does today," said Salmon "But the pit across the road on the other side of county road 21 is only just getting started."
When MacDonald asked whether the developers knew what they wanted to do with the land post-extraction, Salmon said the gravel pit operators are required to rehab the land for agriculture when finished.
Isabel Buckmaster is the Local Journalism Initiative reporter for GuelphToday. LJI is a federally-funded program.
