RDCK calls for public input for temporary light industrial application near Ymir
By Erin Perkins
Local officials anticipate some opposition to a temporary light industrial application near the Village of Ymir to construct the material necessary to resurface 16 kilometres of Highway 6.
If approved by the Regional District of Central Kootenay board (RDCK), the 90-day temporary use permit will allow the government contractor, Selkirk Paving, to remove gravel from the property, crush that gravel and create asphalt on site to be used in repaving 16 kilometres of Highway 6 from Strom Road, just outside of Nelson, to Hall Siding.
The property, located at 6017 Kapak Road alongside Highway 6, is owned by Eggers Forest Products Ltd.
The RDCK will be hosting a public meeting at the Ymir Community Hall on Tuesday, August 14 at 6 p.m. alongside the Area G Advisory Planning Committee (APC) to hear what the community of 200 people have to say about the application.
Representatives from Selkirk Paving will also be present to answer questions.
“Residents could be experiencing smoke and noise for up to 90 days but (Selkirk Paving) hopes to be done in six weeks,” said Hans Cunningham, RDCK Area G director.
“(Selkirk Paving) is eager to get in place because they can’t pave in winter — they must have decent weather.”
Cunningham anticipates there will be at least a half dozen people voicing opposition to the project, likely due to the noise and smell that will be caused by the temporary gravel removal and mobile asphalt plant that will be parked on the property during the road resurfacing project.
Selkirk Paving focussed on reducing impact of paving project
Peter Muirhead, the consultant who applied for the temporary zoning application on behalf of Selkirk Paving, is confident they will be able to help reduce the noise and dust created by the road building process.
The reason for choosing to dig and crush the gravel on site is both a cost and environmental savings.
“Operating from the Kapak road site will reduce trucking requirements and their inherent carbon emissions by approximately 1,600 hours,” said Muirhead in an email interview.
According to Muirhead, the project is proposed to run between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m., Monday to Saturday. For the first 20 days two loaders and one generator will be needed for crushing the aggregate.
Then the asphalt plant will be on site to operate for another 20 days alongside one loader, one generator and about 65 trucks and pups delivering the asphalt to the paver on the road.
“Noise will be effectively reduced to acceptable levels for this short-term project,” said Muirhead.
“The crusher operates with a water storage tank that injects water into the crusher cone while the material is crushed and in that way dust particulate does not get airborne. The travelled areas on the site will be watered down to control any vehicle-generated dust. “
He went on to say that the asphalt plant is “near odourless“ due to a special neutralizer that is added to the asphalt during processing.
Selkirk Paving has been working in the Nelson area for more than 25 years and was recognized as Contractor of the Year by the provincial Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure in 2011.
They have also received the diamond award from the National Asphalt Paving Association for the past four years for outstanding environmental practices, safety, permitting and regulatory compliance and community relations.
Meeting opportunity to have concerns heard and addressed
APC Area G chair, Alan Perello, encourages everyone to attend and make concerns and questions known to Selkirk Paving.
“The APC is open to receive comments from the public on their concerns so that we can consider our position and likely make some recommendations for conditions on the approval, if an approval is forthcoming,” said Perello in a private email interview with The Nelson Daily.
“Since this is a temporary permit, only to allow the highway to be repaired, it is very different from a permanent re-zoning application that would forever change the nature of the use of the land. The land is already used for an industrial purpose as well, so that is significant.”
“We want to hear from everybody and we want people to ask questions and listen to those answers being delivered (by Selkirk Paving),” said Cunningham.
Cunningham said opposition or not, the road needs to be resurfaced and he doesn’t know of any other locally located gravel pit that has the right consistency for asphalt making.
He said in the past year the road, which is pretty rough, has had a few slides due to the heavy rains experienced in the region and had three new culverts installed, making for a more uneven driving surface.
“The road has problems,” said Cunningham. “It is nothing but potholes and patches on patches in the potholes.”
“I am looking forward to a well-attended meeting where we will hear and consider the concerns raised by the public.” said Perello.
“I’m not sure what points will be brought up, but the Area G APC will listen carefully to all points-of-view. The applicant will also have a chance to speak to the matter and respond to the concerns that are raised. It should be a lively discussion, like all good democratic processes should be.”
After the public meeting, the concerns and comments will be included in a report to be presented to the RDCK at their regular board meeting on Thursday, August 16.
