CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — The company that wants to put a second asphalt plant in Charlottetown also wants to set the record straight.
Jeff and Craig Chapman, who make up the company known as Chapman Brothers in Souris, decided to speak out on Friday amid opposition from a group of residents and business people who don't want to see a second asphalt plant in Charlottetown.
In fact, the group has launched an appeal to the Island Regulatory and Appeals Commission (IRAC) and has asked city council to reconsider its vote on an amendment to the zoning and development bylaw that permits asphalt, aggregate and concrete plants in the two M2 zones in the city — in the West Royalty Industrial Park and on Sherwood Road, where the Chapman brothers want to build their plant.
The Guardian has attempted to talk to the Chapmans in the past, but the brothers said they are “very private people who really try to stay out of the limelight at all costs’’ and only now felt comfortable in speaking out.
“After you get beat up so long you have to stand up for yourself. That’s where we’re at right now,’’ Craig Chapman said when asked why they’re speaking out now, referring to the two residents’ group protests and a public meeting earlier this week.
Chapman Brothers pulled an application to build an asphalt plant in another location on Sherwood Road a year ago due to mounting opposition.
This time, they’re looking to build a plant that would measure 280 feet in length and 25 feet wide further up Sherwood Road, across from Island Construction, the only existing asphalt plant in the city. They say it would be located 800 feet off Sherwood Road, in behind the city’s public works garage on MacAleer Drive.
“It’s a big area, a treed area. You would never see it from Brackley Point Road, and it would be (surrounded by trees) from Sherwood Road. It will (have) extremely low visibility. We’re (also) surrounded by two concrete plants, an asphalt plant, A&S Scrap Metal, the city (public works) garage and a hill.’’
Jeff Chapman
However, everything is on hold right now as the city hasn’t indicated yet if council will reconsider its decision and nothing can happen as long as the IRAC appeal is active.
“It’s a big area, a treed area,’’ Jeff Chapman said. “You would never see it from Brackley Point Road, and it would be (surrounded by trees) from Sherwood Road. It will (have) extremely low visibility. We’re (also) surrounded by two concrete plants, an asphalt plant, A&S Scrap Metal, the city (public works) garage and a hill.’’
Craig Chapman said they want to put a plant in Charlottetown for obvious reasons.
“Logistically, it’s an important move for competition and feasibility,’’ Craig said. “Right now, aggregate comes into the city port and we have to truck it approximately 14 kilometres beyond the Sherwood Road (to our nearest plant) to get it produced and then we have to bring it back into the market.’’
Craig noted that there is very little land left in the West Royalty Industrial Park and that an asphalt plant would impact residents more in that location as opposed to Sherwood Road.
Craig said the proposed plant would be similar to the portable one they used on the Charlottetown Airport runway project last year. It would also have other added bonuses.
“Right now, our plant west of Charlottetown doesn’t have recycling capability. This plant does, so if we’re able to set up in the city we’re going to be able to recycle materials which is a cost savings and (means) less aggregate brought in. We’re (also) going to be able to cut down on our carbon footprint with trucking because we (don’t have to) truck stuff back and forth. It will make us more competitive.’’
Jeff said it would reduce their own truck traffic using Sherwood Road by 75 per cent.
The brothers added that they want to invest in Charlottetown, create more jobs and help create a more competitive process when it comes to asphalt jobs for the city as well as residents and businesses.
“It gives people a choice. It creates competition. It levels the playing field. It should lower prices,’’ Craig said. “This is a major financial commitment for us.’’
