CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — Planning staff with the City of Charlottetown is recommending that council take a second look at zoning for concrete or asphalt plants, namely in the West Royalty Industrial Park.
The subject came up at a recent meeting of the planning board.
Earlier this summer, council approved an amendment that allowed these plants in the M2 zones – and there are two of them in the city — at the West Royalty Industrial Park and Sherwood Road.
Since then, residents have fought the decision to allow them on Sherwood Road and an appeal has been filed to the Island Regulatory and Appeals Commission (IRAC).
Coun. Greg Rivard, chairman of the planning committee, said it may be a good time to take a look at the park as a whole when it comes to zoning.
Alex Forbes, manager of planning for the city, said even though the two areas have the same zoning now, they have different uses and function quite differently.
Forbes said they talked about looking at the industrial park and rationalizing the most appropriate industrial zoning that should be applied to it.
“Across Upton Road, all of those uses are a different zone than the old historical quasi-industrial park,’’ Forbes said. “I think they’ve been transitioning to a business park. If that is of concern to (council), they should provide clarity.’’
'Heavy industrial area'
Clarity could come in the form of prohibiting concrete or asphalt plants in the park or council could decide to leave things alone.
Forbes explained the Sherwood Road area is much larger and that it has developed into “a more heavy industrial area’’ with heavy equipment as opposed the industrial park which has grown into more of a business area.
Souris-based Chapman Brothers wants to build an asphalt plant off Sherwood Road, but Forbes said the city has yet to receive an application.
Of course, everything is up to council and nothing will happen until the IRAC hearing on the Sherwood Road issue is complete and a decision is rendered.
“It’s our job just to bring things to their attention. Planning board said let’s deal with this after the IRAC hearing and make sure, procedurally, everything is OK," said Forbes.
“The city is trying to be proactive and clarify these issues before we get too far down the pipe. The IRAC hearing will clarify how the process was undertaken and whether it was done appropriately.’’
