Holyrood approves quarry permit for another year

By Craig Westcott

The wildfire in Holyrood this past summer didn’t dampen business and residential development plans.
Councillor Michelle Woodford, who chairs the Town’s planning committee, said there were 24 permits issued during the period of August 8 to September 10. They ranged from driveway extensions and paving to building permits for new houses.
Among the permits approved is one for a roadside vendor stand at the Star of the Sea parking lot.
“There was always some vendor there selling vegetables for many, many years,” said Woodford. “It’s a great service, especially when we get the fresh vegetables. And the applicant did get approval from the Star of the Sea (Association) to be there.”
Council also agreed to grant a one-year extension to a quarry operating in the Town’s watershed area.
“The location is on the TransCanada Highway,” said Woodford. “If you can recall last year we did approve it. There’s no change in the footprint of what they’re doing, it’s in the same area. It’s just that the permit was only issued for one year. We did send out our director of public works to look at the site to make sure they were managing it properly in accordance with our agreement and everything looked good on the site, so therefore we recommend extending it for another year.”
Mayor Gary Goobie asked Woodford to confirm the Town did not receive any complaints or concerns about the quarry since the permit was issued last year. Woodford said that is so.
“So, they’re operating in compliance with the terms and conditions of their application,” Goobie said.
The permit list also included one for a new home to be built on The Valley Road, and a retaining wall at 9 Saul Drive.
The Town developed a new policy last year regarding the construction of retaining walls. Woodford said the Saul Drive application meets all those rules.
Meanwhile, council has set a new deadline for receipt of applications for building and other permits.
“Any applications coming in for planning and development there will be a deadline now of 3 p.m. on Monday of the planning and development meeting,” Woodford said. “That allows staff to review all the documentation and have it together to be presented at the meeting for everyone to review… We just have to come up with a way to let everyone know when the planning and development meetings are happening so they can get their applications in.”