Sixth Line asphalt plant gets go-ahead (updated)

Terry Rainone admits he was a "weird kid."

While his classmates dreamed of becoming astronauts and rock stars, the future owner of Palmer Construction Group was planning the day when he would own an asphalt plant.

Last night, Rainone's less-than-exotic lifetime dream came true, as Sault Ste. Marie City Council approved a zoning exception allowing him to operate a portable asphalt plant at the intersection of Great Northern Road and Sixth Line. The City's official plan currently allows extractive uses including mining, quarrying and aggregate removal on the site, and Rainone is applying applying to the Ministry of Natural Resources for permission to operate an aggregate extraction pit there.

"Portable asphalt plants have the potential to impact nearby sensitive uses in terms of noise, dust, odour and vibrations," says a report presented to City councillors last night.

The nearest house is about 450 metres from the proposed location of Rainone's asphalt plant and further residential development in the area is restricted.

Only one objection to the asphalt plant was received - from the Agnews at 2515 Great Northern Road.

City officials are concerned about the possibility that any chemical or fuel spills on the property could find their way into the City's drinking water system due to the porosity of the underlying sand and gravel, and they intend to hold Rainone to strict standards for petroleum and chemical handling and spill reporting.

Steps have also been taken to buffer the effects of heavy truck traffic needed to feed the plant.

Twenty-one years ago, City Council approved a canoe-manufacturing operation on the same site.