
Rocky Rezoning: Some Unlikely Alliances Unearthed as Council Digs In Over Quarry Plan
Ottawa City Council met today for its scheduled biweekly meeting. After the approval of reports from various city commissions and the passing of the bulk consent agenda, the rezoning of 4200 March Road was brought forward. A proposed motion would have redesignated the land from Greenspace to Rural Countryside, removing the land’s current Natural Environmental Area status and eliminating protections for natural features and wildlife. Additionally, the property would have been given a Bedrock Resource Area Overlay, identifying it as a potential site for future resource extraction activities such as quarrying.
The proposal was intended to allow Thomas Cavanagh Construction, which owns the property, to expand a mineral extraction operation for gravel on the site. Councillor Clarke Kelly began his questioning of city staff by remarking, “Rezoning an EP3 zone to mineral extraction — I couldn’t think of a more drastic change in zoning for people in the community.”
Kelly cited a 2013 city staff report indicating that there was already a 160-year supply of the type of gravel in question, raising concerns about the necessity of the rezoning. He also voiced apprehensions about the potential noise, heavy traffic, and dust the quarry could bring to the surrounding community. Kelly brought forward a motion to reject the zoning application for the quarry.
In 2023, local publication West Carleton Online reported on the land in and around the proposed quarry site. The area, known as Alvar land, is a rare and environmentally significant habitat found on flat limestone bedrock with little or no soil. Known for their harsh conditions and distinctive plant and animal life, alvars support species that are not found in other ecosystems and are considered ecologically sensitive in Ontario.
According to a specialist cited in the West Carleton Online article, only 112 square kilometres of alvar land exist in North America, providing habitat for 11 endangered species.
Councillor Stéphanie Plante asked the Council what the long-term plan for the area was and, “Is it so ecologically sensitive that that would be something we couldn’t foresee for this place?” City staff responded that there were some “natural features that should be recognised.”
Councillor Jeff Leiper cited the land surveys, which were completed from aerial photos and roadside observation, asking if city staff were able to get to the physical location of the site for a survey. City staff responded that “they were on site, just perhaps not on the quarry part of it.” Leiper brought up a study of the land done by “citizen scientists” who went to study the land without authorisation, and asked if this study could not be taken into account as a result, which city staff confirmed.
Leiper stated that a credible report on species in the area had been ignored on “process grounds” and expressed his concerns regarding the environment and quality of life for residents. Leiper finished his remarks by stating that he did not want the decision to destroy a natural habitat to lie at the Council’s feet due to provincial legislation and asked that the issue be sent to the province for review, urging councillors to reject the application.
In a rare occasion, Councillor Cathy Curry, not known to sit on the progressive side of the Council, stated her full support for Councillor Leiper’s views regarding the quarry application. Fellow Kanata-area Councillor Allan Hubley, however, supported the application, pointing out that, to his knowledge, whatever was happening on a potential quarry site did not fall under the purview of Council. He argued that hampering resource extraction would negatively impact the price of housing in the city while questioning city staff.
Councillors who supported Kelly’s motion included Councillors Curry, Kavanagh, Leiper, Brockington, Johnson, Plante, Bradley, Devine, King, Carr, Menard, and Troster. Mayor Sutcliffe, along with councillors Dudas, Brown, Lo, Hubley, Desroches, Tierney, Luloff, Hill, Gower, and Kitts, opposed the motion.
The vote was unusual in that Curry and Carr, who are usually centrists, voted in favour with the progressive block on Council.
The council is scheduled to meet again in two weeks.
AOBE: Screengrab from Thomas Cavanagh Construction Limited