Avery moves to expand gravel pit, quarry on Fourth Line West

City councillors will be asked Monday to help clear the way for a major expansion of the Bar-X Pit and Quarry on Fourth Line West.

Avery Construction Ltd. is asking the city to lift a holding provision it imposed in 2005 on new or expanding aggregate extraction operations within the city limits.

If councillors agree, Avery will be allowed to expand its Bar-X operation onto a 33-hectare (81-acre) vacant lot immediately east of its existing site.

The new property at 1102 Fourth Line West is already zoned for rural aggregate extraction.

That means City Council won't be entertaining any discussion Monday about the appropriateness of a gravel pit at that location: the issue has already been decided.

The holding provision, however, requires the city to ensure that Avery has proper safeguards in place to protect the groundwater aquifer, confirming that groundwater recharge area policies contained in the city's official plan will be followed.

Even if councillors agree to lift the holding provision, Avery must still go through the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF)'s process for pit licensing.

"The Bar-X-2 pit will require an MNRF pit license prior to operating," says Peter Tonazzo, the city's senior planner.

"The pit licensing requirements are rigorous and include neighbourhood consultation. The applicant has begun the process of applying for an MNRF pit license application," Tonazzo says in a written report to Mayor Provenzano and councillors.

"The sand and gravel extracted from local pits and quarries is necessary for the development of the urban area."

"Sault Ste. Marie’s aggregate resources closely correspond with the groundwater recharge area. The porous sand and gravel deposits allow water to percolate down and recharge the aquifer that supplies roughly half of Sault Ste. Marie’s potable drinking water. A fuel or chemical spill could contaminate this critically important resource," said Tonazzo.

Among other precautions planned by Avery, the company says no bulk storage of chemicals or other hazardous materials will occur at the site. 

Fuel storage would be limited to 5,000 litres and will be used only in vehicles operating on the property.

The holding area in which any portable fuel tank is stored must be able to handle 110 per cent tank's capacity.

Monday's City Council meeting will a COVID-19 hybrid gathering, with some councillors present in the council chambers but practising physical distancing and others participating electronically.

Public delegations who've registered with the city clerk will be required to participate electronically.

The proceedings will be livestreamed on SooToday starting at 4:30 p.m.