The Council of the Township of North Shore took a big step towards welcoming a controversial quarry into the municipality Tuesday night.
At its regular meeting in Algoma Mills, council voted to approve the plan to turn a piece of Crown Land into a site for harvesting stone to be used in the construction industry.
A group of area residents has been battling the plan for years, claiming the work will endanger one of the best Ontario habitats for the Blanding's Turtle.
The vote was ratified by council to amend the Township of the North Shore zoning by-law #17-07 (from Restricted Open Space to Mineral Extraction), three to two in favour.
Now it will be up to the province to decide whether the quarry can go ahead.
Before the vote, Councillor Gary Gamble put forth a motion to defer the decision/vote to wait and see what happens with the proposed amendments to the Aggregate Resources Act, which would take municipalities out of the equation when it comes to zoning on Crown Land.
Gamble discussed his concerns about the issue's divisiveness in the community, the potential legal costs if an appeal is filed via the LPAT (Local Planning Appeal Tribunal) process, and the negative attention that council has been receiving in the media.
Councillor Melody Rose seconded Gamble's motion, but it was defeated three to two. Mayor Randi Condie, Councillor Barb Barton and Councillor Brenda Green were opposed to deferring the decision to rezone.
Once the notice of council's decision is published, those opposed will have 20 days to file an appeal. Opposing spokesperson Rhonda Kirby tells ElliotLakeToday her people are currently preparing to begin the process.
"We have received a great deal of attention from media agencies, environmental groups and concerned individuals who have been reaching out with offers of support. Our GoFundMe fund has been growing significantly," she said.
To visit the GoFundMe page, please click here.