The District of Port Edward has granted a temporary permit to a company looking to develop a gravel pit, but the permit is not without restrictions.
Council voted to approve the rezoning of a parcel of land on the southeast side of Highway 16 near Prudhomme Lake from Tourist Commercial to Light Industrial for use in gravel extraction and a potential laydown and storage area in the years ahead.
But given the proximity of the site to the Prudhomme Lake provincial campground, the permit only allows for drilling, blasting and crushing to take place between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday to Friday between May 10 and Sept. 20. As well, the company will be required to construct a berm next to the highway to both limit the amount of noise from operations and visual impact.
According to chief administrative officer Ron Bedard, there is an opportunity for the permit to be extended for longer-term use.
“This permit is for a three year period, but the company could come in and apply for another three years. That would be up to the future council to decide,” he said, noting the length of use could also be shortened.
“If after two years the owner doesn’t want the permit, he could come in and ask for it to be rezoned, at which point the conditions would be taken off of the title.”