The Melrose Quarry appeal pretrial hearing took place today (Thursday) and it was short but productive.
Led by Thomas Hodgins of the Ontario Local Planning Appeal Tribunal, the pretrial determined the number of objectors and saw the citizens group Citizens Against Melrose Quarry receive participant status in the hearing.
The two sides agreed to a procedural order to determine the timeline for a hearing, an issues list, the number of expert witnesses and their specialties, and how long a trial will last.
A longtime resident and executive member of the citizens group who wished to remain anonymous told Quinte News there are a number of concerns that need to be addressed.
Other issues continue to be noise, dust, environmental impact, truck traffic, blasting and surface and ground water.
Lawyer for Charlie Demille, owner of Long’s Quarry, Tony Flemming, said the procedural order will determine the exact issues.
The order will also determine how many expert witnesses may be involved with the hearing, the timelines going forward as well as how long the trial is expected to last.
The pretrial also saw the participation of the citizens group Citizens Against Melrose Quarry (CAM-Q) allowed.
The group will be represented by Richard Lindgren of the Canadian Environmental Law Association who will act as a point person for the 18 objectors.
Tyendinaga Township was an objector originally to the expansion but has since dropped their objection as this issue has moved forward.
In November 2018, council voted 3-2 to rezone a 63 acre area to allow for the expansion of the quarry located at Melrose and Shannonville Roads.
The application for Melrose Quarry would allow for 500,000 tonnes of aggregate to be taken per year from the quarry.
The next pretrial hearing will take place via telephone teleconference on November 12 to determine when the licencing process appeal will take place.